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!  3  I 


ii 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


NOTES    ON    THE 
CHURCHES    OF    DERBYSHIRE. 


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(S) 

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NOTES 


ON    THE 


of  Dtppbnsfiipp. 

%^^    «^^ 


BY 


J.    CHARLES    COX, 


Member    of  the    British    Archaological    Association,    etc. 


VOL.     IV. 

THE    HUNDRED    OF    MORLESTON    AND    LITCHURCH : 
AND    GENERAL    SUPPLEMENT. 

ILLUSTRATED    WITH    HELIOTYPES    FROM    PHOTOGRAPHS    BY    R.    KEENE,     AND 
NUMEROUS    OTHER     PLATES. 


1  EVERY   STONE   THAT   WE   LOOK    UPON    IN   THIS   REPOSITORY   OF   PAST   AGES    IS   BOTH   AN 
ENTERTAINMENT    AND   A    MONITOR." 


CHESTERFIELD:    W.    EDMUNDS. 

LONDON:    BEMROSE    AND    SONS,    10,    PATERNOSTER 

BUILDINGS;    AND    DERBY. 


MDCCCLXXIX. 


DA 


to 

THE     EIGHT     HONOURABLE 

W.     E.     GLADSTONE,     D.C.L.,     M.P., 

THIS  WORK  is  (WITH  PERMISSION)  DEDICATED, 

IN    GRATEFUL   ACKNOWLEDGMENT    OF 

THE    LOAN    OF   THE    GLYNN    MSS.    PERTAINING   TO    THIS   COUNTY, 
AND     AS     AN     UNWORTHY    TRIBUTE     TO 

HIS    UNFLINCHING   INTEGRITY 
AS    A     CHURCHMAN     AND    A     STATESMAN, 


704784 


INTRODUCTION. 


| HIS  fourth  volume,  which  concludes  the  work,  contains 
an  account  of  all  the  old  Churches  and  Chapels 
within  the  Hundred  of  Morleston  and  Litchurch, 
and  also  a  good  deal  of  supplementary  matter  relative  to  the 
Churches  treated  of  in  the  previous  volumes,  especially  in  the 
first  and  second.  Yielding  to  the  advice  of  several,  whose 
judgment  was  of  much  value,  I  have  supplied  lists  of  the 
Clergy  and  Patrons  of  the  different  Benefices  in  East  and 
North  Derbyshire,  which  had  previously  been  omitted.  The 
local  value  of  these  lists  has  been  already  mentioned  in  the 
introduction  to  the  third  volume ;  but  the  student  of  national 
history  may  also  find  them  worthy  of  attention,  as  showing 
the  different  epochs,  when,  from  different  reasons,  considerable 
changes  were  effected  in  the  ranks  of  the  clergy. 

To  one  of  these  epochs  it  is  worth  while  to  very  briefly 
draw  attention — the  year  1348-9,  when  the  whole  of  Europe 
was  devastated  by  that  terrible  mortality,  the  Black  Death. 
The  pestilence  first  appeared  in  the  seaports  of  Dorsetshire  on 
August  1st,  1348,  and  travelled,  slowly  but  surely,  westward 
and  northward.  It  lay  comparatively  dormant  during  the 
winter,  but  by  May,  1349,  it  had  reached  Derbyshire,  and  for 
the  next  four  months  raged  with  fury  throughout  the  king- 
dom. Hecker  calculates  the  loss  to  Europe  at  large  as  twenty- 
five  millions.  Nowhere  was  the  plague  more  fatal  than  in 
England  ;  a  single  burial-ground,  consecrated  for  the  purpose, 
now  the  site  of  the  Charter-house,  received  50,000  corpses, 
arranged  in  layers,  in  large  pits.  It  has  generally  been 
assumed  that  the  rather  vague  statement  of  the  old  chroniclers, 
as  to  the  deaths  in  England,  are  considerably  exaggerated, 


Vlll  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

but  the  Episcopal  Registers  at  Lichfield  afford  undeniable 
evidence  of  the  appalling  character  of  the  visitation.  The 
total  number  of  Derbyshire  benefices,  whose  incumbents  had 
to  be  presented  to  the  Bishop  was,  at  that  time,  108.  The 
average  number  of  institutions  per  annum  to  those  benefices, 
through  vacancies  caused  by  death  or  resignation,  was,  during 
that  century,  seven.  In  1346  they  numbered  four,  in  1347, 
only  two,  and  in  1348  eight ;  but  in  1349  the  number  leapt 
to  sixty-three,  and  in  the  following  year  (many  of  the  vacant 
benefices  not  being  filled  up  till  then)  they  numbered  forty- 
one  ! 

Seventy-seven  beneficed  priests  of  Derbyshire  died  in  that 
one  dread  period,  and  twenty-two  more  resigned.  Of  the  three 
vicars  of  Derby  Churches,  that  required  Episcopal  Institution, 
two  (S.  Peter's  and  S.  Michael's)  died  at  their  posts,  whilst 
the  vicar  of  S.  Werburgh's  resigned  his  cure.  The  chantry 
priest  of  Our  Lady,  at  S.  Peter's  Church,  also  perished.  The 
two  rectors  of  Eckington  both  died,  and  of  the  three  rectors 
who  then  shared  the  rectory  of  Darley,  two  died  and  one 
resigned.  The  rectories  of  Lang  with  and  Mugginton,  and  the 
vicarages  of  Barlborough,  Bolsover,  Horsley,  Longford,  Sutton- 
on-the-Hill,  and  Wellington,  were  twice  emptied  by  the  plague, 
and  three  successive  vicars  of  Pentrich  all  fell  in  the  same 
fatal  year.  Nor  were  the  regular  clergy  more  fortunate,  for 
the  Abbots  of  Beauchief,  Dale,  and  Darley,  the  Prior  of  Gresley, 
the  Prior  of  the  Dominicans  at  Derby,  and  the  Prioress  of 
King's  Mead,  were  all  victims ;  and  if  death  thus  seized  upon 
the  superiors,  it  is  not  likely  that  the  ordinary  canons,  monks, 
or  nuns,  fared  any  better. 

After  making  all  due  allowance  for  the  pleasant  reflection 
that  the  mortality  among  the  priests  possibly  exceeded  that 
of  other  classes,  owing  to  their  faithfulness  in  administering 
the  last  consolations  of  the  Church,  and  thus  pre-eminently 
exposing  themselves  to  contagion,  it  must  be  allowed  that 
the  death-rate  was  gigantic.  Unless  the  Diocese  of  Coventry 
and  Lichfield  was  a  striking  exception  to  the  general  condi- 
tion of  the  country,  the  documentary  evidence  of  its  registers 
goes  far  to  prove  the  correctness  of  the  old  chroniclers.  The 
evidence  that  we  have  also  given,  in  the  account  of  Crich, 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

of  the  ravages  of  this  plague  of  1349,  at  Wakebridge,  in  a 
single  household — one  of  the  most  wealthy  and  healthily 
situated  in  the  county — taken  in  connection  with  the  death 
of  the  superior  clergy,  is  also  some  proof  of  the  hastiness  of 
the  conclusion  that  assigns  the  Black  Death  almost  exclusively 
to  the  poorer  classes.  * 

The  awful  shock  thus  given  to  the  nation,  and  to  Europe 
at  large,  by  the  Black  Death,  paralysed  for  a  time  every  art  and 
industry.  The  science  of  church  architecture,  then  about  at  its 
height,  was  some  years  in  recovering  from  the  blow.  In  some 
cases,  as  with  the  grand  church  of  S.  Nicholas,  Yarmouth, 
where  a  splendid  pair  of  western  towers  were  being  erected, 
the  work  was  stopped  and  never  resumed.  In  other  instances 
the  piety  of  wealthy  survivors  caused  them  to  give  much 
of  their  substance  to  the  fabrics  or  endowments  of  the  church, 
as  was  the  case  with  the  three  Derbyshire  families  of  Wake- 
bridge,  Chesterfield,  and  Chaddesden.  The  recollection  of  this 
great  plague  often  helps  to  explain  the  break  that  the  careful 
eye  not  unfrequently  notes  in  church  buildings  of  the  fourteenth 
century,  and  accounts  for  the  long  period  over  which  the 
works  extended.  We  believe  this  to  be  the  secret  of  the  long 
stretch  of  years  that  elapsed  before  the  noble  church  of 
Tideswell  was  completed  in  that  century  ;  and  it  also  affords 
the  clue  to  much  other  work  interrupted,  or  suddenly  under- 
taken, in  several  other  fabrics  of  the  county. 

The  serious,  but  far  less  deadly,  visitations  of  1361-2, 
and  1369,  styled  in  the  old  charters,  the  Second  and  Third 
Plagues,  may  also  be  traced  in  the  Institutions.  Much  inci- 
dental information  as  to  the  different  outbreaks  of  the  plague 
in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries  will  also  be  found 
in  this  volume,  in  the  account  of  the  registers  of  the  different 
parish  churches  of  the  town  of  Derby. 

The  King's  name  will  often  be  noted  in  the  list  of  patrons 
given  in  this  and  the  third  volumes.  It  should  be  remem- 
bered, that  not  only  was  the  King  patron  of  all  benefices 
pertaining  to  tenants  who  held  direct  from  the  Crown,  during 

*  On  the  great  change  brought  about  in  the  Church  of  England  by  the  Black 
Death,  see  Hook's  Archbishops  of  Canterbury,  vol.  iv.,  chap.  12 ;  on  the  equally  great 
social  and  political  changes,  see  Professor  Eogers*  History  of  Agriculture  and  Prices 
in  England,  vol.  i.  passim ;  on  the  general  subject,  see  Hecker's  Epidemics  of  the 
Middle  A  gen,  translated  by  Dr.  Babiugton. 


X  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

the  time  that  the  heirs  might  be  in  their  minority,  but  that 
the  right  of  patronage  in  many  cases  devolved  upon  the  Crown 
in  virtue  of  lapse.  A  lapse  (by  the  canon  law  styled  Devo- 
lution) is  the  transferring  elsewhere  of  patronage,  when  the 
patron  fails  to  present  within  six  months.  The  patronage,  in 
the  first  instance  lapses  to  the  Ordinary  or  Bishop,  then, 
after  another  six  months  to  the  Metropolitan,  and  finally,  after 
another  like  interval,  to  the  King.  If  the  Archbishop  fails 
to  present  in  the  second  six  months,  the  last  resort  for  filling 
up  the  benefice,  in  the  rest  of  the  Western  Church,  is  the 
Pope ;  but  in  England  this  claim  of  the  Bishop  of  Rome  was 
never  recognised,  and  the  supreme  authority  was  always 
vested  in  our  Kings.  The  Crown  likewise  always  presented 
if  the  Ordinary  died  after  a  lapse  had  happened,  and  also  to 
all  episcopal  benefices  during  the  vacancy  of  the  See. 

Another  matter  in  connection  with  these  lists,  worth  a 
moment's  attention,  is  the  way  in  which  they  show  that  the 
various  monastic  establishments  were  aware  of  the  fate  coming 
upon  them  before  the  storm  burst,  and  how  they  were  able 
to  realise  something,  or,  at  all  events,  cheat  the  Crown  for  a 
time  of  its  plunder,  by  selling  or  devising  the  next  presen- 
tation to  their  advowsons.  In  no  case  do  they  appear  to  have 
been  able  to  sell  the  advowson  itself,  but  in  almost  every 
case  of  monastic  patronage,  it  will  be  noted  that  the  presen- 
tation following  the  dissolution  of  those  establishments  was 
made  by  one  or  more  persons  who  had  obtained  the  right 
by  arrangement  with  the  then  defunct  abbey  or  priory. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Lichfield, 
with  the  kind  help  of  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Hobhouse, 
I  have  gone  through  the  various  Registers  or  Act  Books  of 
the  Chapter,  and  also  inspected  a  large  number  of  charters 
and  documents  relative  to  their  peculiar  jurisdiction  of  the 
Peak,  embracing  the  whole  of  the  old  parishes  of  Bakewell, 
Tideswell,  and  Hope,  certain  rights  in  Chapel- en-le -Frith,  and 
the  extra-parochial  district  of  Peak  Forest,  and  also  (by 
special  arrangement  with  the  Dean  of  Lincoln)  the  rectory  of 
Kniveton.  There  are  a  great  number  of  documents  pertaining 
to  the  long-fought  struggle  between  the  Chapter  and  Lenton 
Priory  as  to  the  tithes  on  the  Peverel  demesnes,  but  there 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

seems  to  be  nothing  of  importance  under  that  head  in  addi- 
tion to  what  I  have  already  summarised  under  Chapel-en-le- 
Frith,  Tideswell,  and  Fairfield,  in  the  second  volume.  The 
supplement,  however,  will  be  found  to  contain  a  large  amount 
of  fresh  information,  relative  to  the  Peak  district,  from  other 
charters,  and  from  the  Act  Books. 

The  earliest  of  these  Act  Books  is  now  at  the  Bodleian 
(Ashm.  MSS.  794),  and  was  probably  removed  by  that  not 
too  scrupulous  antiquary,  Elias  Ashmole,  who  was  a  native 
of  Lichfield.  There  is  a  transcript  of  the  greater  portion  of 
it  in  the  valuable  Salt  Library,  Stafford.  It  extends  from 
1321  to  1356 ;  after  the  latter  date  fifty-eight  leaves  are 
unfortunately  lost,  and  then  come  some  entries  of  the  year 
1369. 

The  next  volume  is  the  first  one  in  the  possession  of  the 
Chapter,  and  is  entitled  Primus  Liber  Acta  Capitularia.  It 
extends  from  1384  to  1438,  and  seems  to  be  complete  and  in 
good  condition. 

Then  there  is  a  considerable  gap,  and  the  next  volume 
can  scarcely  be  considered  an  Act  book,  but  partakes  more 
of  the  character  of  a  note  and  account  book,  kept  by  Thomas 
Godsalve,  the  chapter  clerk.  It  extends  from  1480  to  1510. 

The  fourth  volume,  endorsed  as  the  third,  or  "  le  Black 
Book,"  is  from  1490  to  1523. 

The  succeeding  volume  follows  immediately  on  its  prede- 
cessor, and  goes  down,  but  with  considerable  irregularity,  to 
1575.  It  is  styled  the  fourth,  or  "Ye  redd  Booke."  The 
titles  of  "  Black  "  and  "  Red,"  like  that  of  the  Magnum  Regis- 
trum  Album  (the  early  Chartulary  of  the  Chapter  described 
in  the  introduction  to  my  second  volume)  arc  derived  from 
the  colour  of  the  respective  bindings. 

The  fifth  book  (according  to  the  number  of  those  in  the 
possession  of  the  Chapter)  is  not  an  Act  Book,  but  chiefly 
consists  of  a  collection  of  charters  and  copies  of  leases.  The 
earliest  document  here  transcribed  is  of  the  year  1537,  and 
the  latest  of  1621. 

All  those  hitherto  described  have  been  of  parchment,  but 
the  sixth  is  a  folio  book  of  paper,  about  a  fourth  of  which 


Xll  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

is  frayed  away  at  the  edges.  It  is  an  Act  Book  from  1628 
to  1637,  kept  by  Geoffrey  Glasier,  chapter  clerk. 

The  seventh  volume  is  also  of  paper,  but  in  good  condition. 
It  consists  of  an  Act  Book  from  1660  to  1734,  followed  by 
a  detailed  description  of  the  proceedings  at  the  election  and 
enthronement  of  a  Bishop,  and  also  by  various  Visitations  of 
the  Vicars-Choral  by  the  Dean  up  to  1774.  These  last  are  of 
much  interest  as  showing  the  eighteenth  century  Use  of  the 
Cathedral  in  various  particulars.  One  of  the  Visitation  queries 
put  to  the  Vicars  was,  whether  they  were  careful  in  "  reve- 
rently bowing  to  the  Holy  Table,"  at  entering  and  leaving  the 
quire,  or  on  crossing  it,  or  on  going  to  read  the  lessons  ?  The 
Vicars  replied  that  this  reverent  custom  was  "  for  the  most 
part  observed." 

The  eighth  volume  consists  of  the  Acts  and  Orders  of  the 
Chapter  from  1740  to  1795.  Other  volumes  bring  the  Chapter 
Acts  down  to  the  present  day.  All  these  records  are  of  value 
to  the  Derbyshire  ecclesiologist,  as  herein  are  contained  the 
nominations  to  the  different  vicarages  in  the  Chapter  Peculiar, 
which  are  never  once  named  in  the  Episcopal  Registers,  as 
well  as  much  incidental  information  relative  to  those  benefices, 
and  to  the  prebends  of  Sawley  and  Sandiacre. 

Nor  must  I  omit  to  mention  the  two  large  and  important 
volumes,  termed  Oliverian  Surveys,  that  pertain  to  the 
Chapter.  Their  nature  is  best  explained  by  a  full  transcript 
of  the  title: — 

"  A  Survey  of  the  Rectory  of  Bakewell  and  members,  with  the  whole  jurisdicon 
of  the  same,  of  the  Tythes  of  Wooll  Lambes  Graine,  etc.,  with  the  Rights  Members 
and  Appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  or  apperteining  lying  and  being  in  the 
County  of  Derby,  parcell  of  the  possession  belonginge  to  the  Cathedrall  Church 
of  St.  Chad  in  Leichfeild  And  to  the  late  Deane  and  Chapter  there,  made  and 
taken  in  the  moneth  of  Octob'  1649." 

An  analysis  of  these  volumes  is  given  in  the  Supplement, 
under  Bakewell. 

It  is  a  source  of  great  regret  that  space  has  forbidden  me 
making  fuller  use  of  the  treasury  of  information  contained 
in  the  Episcopal  and  Chapter  Records,  but  I  have  the  satis- 
faction of  feeling  that  I  have,  in  this  and  the  preceding 
Introductions,  pointed  out  the  nature  of  their  stores,  and  of 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

thinking  that  but  few  points  of  importance,  relative  to  Derby- 
shire, can  have  escaped  my  notice,  however  condensed  may 
be  the  form  in  which  they  are  given.  The  way  in  which 
the  mediaeval  Bishops  exercised  their  most  important  func- 
tions up  and  down  their  Diocese,  instead  of  confining  them 
for  the  most  part  to  their  cathedrals,  as  is  the  general  modern 
custom,  has  often  struck  me.  For  instance,  in  the  first  half 
of  the  fourteenth  century,  five  Ordinations  were  held  in  the 
church  of  All  Saints',  Derby,  five  in  the  prebendal  church 
of  Sawley,  and  one  each  in  the  parish  churches  of  Eckington, 
Darley,  Spondon,  Elvaston,  and  Bakewell;  the  last  instance 
must  have  been  by  the  special  consent  of  the  Chapter. 

The  other  new  sources  of  information,  made  use  of  in  this 
volume  and  its  supplement,  in  addition  to  the  Chapter  MSS., 
are  chiefly  two-fold — the  Pension  Roll  of  2  and  3  Philip  and 
Mary,  and  the  Glynn  MSS.  The  former  is  to  be  found  in 
the  British  Museum,  Add.  MSS.  8102,  the  skins  relating  to 
Derbyshire  being  numbered  45  and  50 ;  it  gives  the  names 
of  all  the  suppressed  chantry  priests,  etc.,  whose  stipends  had 
been  confiscated,  and  to  whom  pensions  were  at  that  time 
granted  from  the  Exchequer.  It  had  been  my  intention  to 
give  these  particulars  verbatim  in  the  Appendix,  but  it  after- 
wards seemed  better  to  give  the  substance  of  the  information 
under  the  respective  parishes.  That  distinguished  ecclesiolo- 
gist,  the  late  Sir  Stephen  Glynn,  was  in  the  habit  of  taking 
full  architectural  notes  of  all  the  churches  he  visited  through- 
out his  long  life.  The  great  majority  of  the  churches  of 
England  and  Wales  came  under  his  diligent  notice.  His  notes 
on  the  Churches  of  Kent  have  been  recently  published  as  a 
posthumous  work.  Mr.  Gladstone  most  kindly  placed  his 
notes  on  this  county  at  my  service.  His  courtesy  I  have 
gratefully  acknowledged  in  the  dedication  of  this  volume. 
These  Derbyshire  notes  of  Sir  Stephen  Glynn,  of  which  it 
will  be  seen  I  have  made  free  use,  begin  in  1832,  and  go 
down  to  1873 ;  they  include  the  whole  of  the  old  churches 
of  the  county,  with  some  five  or  six  exceptions,  and  many 
of  the  notices  are  of  exceptional  value,  as  the  fabrics  of 
several  have  been  since  taken  down  or  considerably  over- 
restored. 


DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

In  the  place  of  the  Pension  Roll,  there  is  given  in  the 
Appendix  a  list  of  the  destroyed  or  disused  churches  and 
chapels  of  Derbyshire,  which  I  have  proof  were  in  use  in 
mediaeval  times.  Their  number  actually  exceeds  one  hundred. 
That  the  case  is  understated  I  am  convinced,  for  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  there  were  more  chapels  in  'connection 
with  monastic  granges,  than  the  few  of  that  class  which  are 
enumerated.  It  should  also  be  understood  that  no  merely 
domestic  chapel  or  oratory  is  included  in  the  list,  but  only 
such  as  were  used  by  tenantry  or  retainers  (like  those  of 
Haddon  Hall,  or  Codnor  Castle,  which  were  even  in  possession 
of  baptismal  rights),  or  that  had  a  priest  permanently  attached 
to  them.  If  oratories  for  occasional  private  Masses,  and  for 
family  devotions  had  been  included,  such  as  were  attached  to 
every  manor  house  of  the  least  importance,  two  or  three 
score  of  episcopal  licenses  for  such  oratories  might  have  been 
produced,  on  a  diligent  search  among  the  Lichfield  Registers ; 
for  in  those  days  it  was  considered  comely  and  reverent  to 
have  a  room  set  apart  for  daily  devotion,  the  slovenly  habit 
of  family  prayers  among  the  debris  of  the  breakfast  table  not 
being  then  invented.  The  very  bountiful  provision  for  the 
spiritual  necessities  of  her  people,  that  was  made  by  the 
ancient  Church  of  England  in  this  country,  is  thus  abundantly 
proved.  No  large  manor  house,  nor  the  smallest  hamlet,  was 
then  without  its  chapel ;  and  when  the  great  difference  of 
population  is  taken  into  account,  it  will  be  found  that  even 
the  great  and  happy  growth  of  the  Church  during  the  past 
quarter  of  a  century  is  very  far  from  rivalling  in  church 
accommodation  the  better  periods  of  the  mediaeval  days. 

To  the  repeated  request,  urged  in  different  strains,  but  from 
the  same  quarter,  that  descriptions  of  all  the  churches  in 
the  county  should  be  given,  it  must  again  be  replied,  that 
such  was  never  for  a  moment  within  the  scope  or  intention 
of  the  work.  I  started  with  the  plainly  expressed  idea  of 
giving  a  sketch  of  the  history  and  some  account  of  the 
architecture  of  all  the  old  churches  and  chapels  in  Derbyshire, 
and  that  has  now  been  accomplished.  I  fully  grant  that  it 
is,  in  one  sense,  a  matter  of  far  higher  importance  than  any- 
thing herein  undertaken,  to  know  of  the  work  of  Church 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

Extension,  from  the  handsome  parochial  church  to  the  humble 
mission  chapel,  now  being  done  in  our  midst ;  but  all  this 
can  be  learnt  in  a  few  minutes  by  the  expenditure  of  a  shilling 
on  the  Derbyshire  Red  Book  or  the  Diocesan  Calendar.  More- 
over, I  do  not  profess  to  be  a  critic  of  modern  architecture; 
and  though  a  few  fabrics  worthy  of  their  purpose  have  been 
erected  in  Derbyshire  within  the  last  few  years,  yet  by  far 
the  greater  part  of  the  ecclesiastical  buildings  of  a  later  date 
than  Henry  VII.,  instead  of  being  constructed  on  the  principle 
of  giving  of  our  best  to  God,  have  partaken  of  the  opposite 
characteristics  of  extreme  parsimony  and  outrageous  taste.  If 
there  are  any  to  whom  the  description  of  such  work  is  con- 
genial, to  them  I  willingly  leave  it. 

The  difficulty  of  condensing  my  materials  has  steadily  in- 
creased volume  by  volume,  as  the  sources  of  information  more 
fully  unfolded  themselves.  I  have  been  compelled  to  break 
my  promise  of  giving  some  account  of  the  Abbeys  of  Dale 
and  Darley  in  these  pages.  So  much  of  importance  can  be 
gathered  as  to  their  history,  that  it  is  hoped  a  monograph  of 
each  may  be  prepared,  notices  of  the  smaller  religious  houses 
of  Derby  being  included  in  the  latter.  The  history  of  Dale 
Abbey,  which  Mr.  Hope  and  myself  have  jointly  undertaken, 
is  already  in  preparation.  From  some  of  the  churches  men- 
tioned in  this  volume  it  was  a  pang  to  part  company;  so 
interesting,  at  all  events  to  the  compiler,  was  the  tale  of  their 
fabrics  and  the  monuments  that  they  covered,  and  so  un- 
worthy does  the  space  here  afforded  to  them  seem  to  be. 
Especially  was  this  the  case  with  Morley,  Crich,  Sawley,  and 
All  Saints'.  Of  the  last-named  it  has  been  found  necessary 
to  write  a  separate  and  far  fuller  account,  in  addition  to 
what  is  stated  in  these  pages ;  and  this  will  very  soon  be 
ready  for  the  press.  It  is  hoped  that  no  one  will  grudge 
the  numerous  pages  bestowed  upon  a  summary  of  the  hitherto 
overlooked  Chartulary  of  the  Chantries  of  Crich;  it  seemed 
to  me  to  be  unique  in  the  side-lights  that  it  throws  upon  our 
ecclesiastical  and  local  history. 

This  county  cannot  for  a  moment  pretend  to  vie  with 
Somersetshire  in  its  towers,  with  Northamptonshire  in  its 
spires,  with  Norfolk  or  Suffolk  in  the  size  or  beauty  of  so 


XVI  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

many  of  their  churches,  or  with  Kent  in  the  number  of  its 
brasses ;  but  this  can,  I  believe,  be  fairly  claimed  for  Derby- 
shire, that  no  other  part  of  the  country  of  the  same  size  has 
anything  like  the  same  extensive  variety  of  styles  and  ex- 
cellent specimens  of  every  period,  both  in  the  ecclesiastical 
fabrics  themselves,  and  in  the  monumental  remains  and  other 
details  that  they  shelter.  The  following  is  a  summary  of  their 
more  remarkable  features,  according  to  the  different  styles : — 

SAXON  PERIOD. — Crypt,  chancel,  and  two  nave  piers  (now 
under  the  tower)  at  -Repton;  chancel-arch  of  Marston  Mont- 
gomery, and  of  Sawley ;  chancel-arch,  and  other  details,  of 
Long  Eaton,  and  of  Stanton-by-Bridge ;  windows,  etc.,  of  Cald- 
well  Chapel;  font,  at  Wilne  (very  early);  and  churchyard  crosses, 
at  Eyam,  Bakewell,  Hope,  Blackwell,  Spondon,  and  Tadding- 
ton  (very  early),  with  considerable  fragments  at  S.  Alkmund's, 
Derby,  Darley,  etc.,  etc. 

NORMAN  PERIOD. — The  grand  church  at  Melbourn ;  tower 
at  Bradbourne ;  considerable  remains  at  Aston-on-Trent,  Bake- 
well,  Hault  Hucknall,  Longford,  Sandiacre,  Whitwell,  and 
Youlgreave ;  south  doorways  at  Allestree  and  Breadsall ;  fonts 
at  Ashover  (lead),  Church  Broughton,  Kirk  Hallam,  Mellor, 
Somersall  Herbert,  Staveley,  Tissington,  Winster,  and  Youl- 
greave, with  a  projecting  holy  water  stoup ;  and  that  exquisite 
gem,  Steetley  Church. 

EARLY  ENGLISH  PERIOD. — Towers  of  Breadsall  and  Ecking- 
ton,  and  tower  and  spire  of  Ockbrook ;  chancels  of  Ashbourn, 
Dovebridge,  Marston-on-Dove,  and  Weston-on-Trent ;  chapel  of 
S.  John  Baptist,  Belper ;  ruins  of  Yeaveley  Preceptory ;  and 
fonts  of  Ashbourn,  Bradbourn,  Bradley,  and  Norton. 

DECORATED  PERIOD. — Chancels  of  Bakewell,  Dronfield,  Nor- 
bury,  and  Sandiacre ;  tower  and  spire  of  Ashbourn ;  churches 
of  Chesterfield,  Mackworth,  Tideswell,  and  Hathersage;  good 
windows  and  other  details  at  Ashbourn,  Bonsall,  Chaddesden, 
Crich,  Ilkeston,  S.  Peter's,  Derby,  and  Walton-on-Trent ;  and 
font  at  Bakewell. 

PERPENDICULAR  PERIOD. — Towers  of  All  Saints',  Derby  (late), 
Elvaston,  Longford,  Youlgreave,  and  North  Winfield ;  and  the 
roofs  of  Longstone  and  Repton. 

No  county  can  compare  with  Derbyshire  in  the  abundance 


INTRODUCTION.  XV11 

of  early  incised  slabs,  from  the  tenth  century  downwards. 
They  are  found  built  into  the  walls  of  many  of  the  churches, 
especially  in  North  and  East  Derbyshire.  The  best  collections 
are  at  Bakewell,  Barley,  and  Chelmorton.  Effigies  incised  on 
slabs  of  the  local  alabaster  found  at  Chellaston,  are  common 
in  the  South  Derbyshire  churches,  for  the  most  part  of  the 
fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries.  There  are  remarkable  semi- 
effigial  monuments  at  Brampton,  Kedleston,  Hartington,  and 
Mack  worth.  Early  stone  effigies  are  found  at  Darley,  Eggin- 
ton,  Ilkeston,  Melbourn,  Norbury,  Newton  Solney,  Sawley, 
Sudbury,  Wingerworth,  North  Winfield,  Youlgreave,  etc.  There 
are  some  fine  alabaster  effigies  at  Ashbourn,  Aston-on-Trent, 
Cubley,  Duffield,  Kedleston,  Longford,  Newton  Solney,  Nor- 
bury, and  Radbourn.  Owing  to  the  prevalence  of  stone, 
brasses  are  not  common,  but  there  is  an  excellent  series  at 
Morley,  and  some  good  ones  at  Ashover,  Dronfield,  Etwall, 
Hathersage,  Mugginton,  Norbury,  Sawley,  Staveley,  Tideswell, 
Walton-on-Trent,  and  Wilne. 

The  old  stained  glass  at  either  Morley  or  Norbury  is  well 
worth  a  pilgrimage,  and  there  is  also  much  interest  about  the 
remains  of  glass  at  Egginton.  The  fourteenth  century  pulpit 
at  Mellor,  carved  out  of  the  solid  oak,  is  a  unique  relic. 
The  stone  gospel  lecterns  against  the  chancel  walls  of  Chad- 
desden,  Crich,  Etwall,  Mickleover,  and  Spondon,  are  of  very 
exceptional  occurrence.  The  sedilia  of  Dronfield,  Ilkeston, 
Monyash,  Sandiacre,  and  Whitwell,  are  all  remarkably  good 
examples.  The  stone  chancel  screens  of  Ilkeston  and  Chel- 
morton, and  the  stone  parclose  in  Darley  Church,  are  most 
uncommon  and  noteworthy. 

The  most  melancholy  reflection  caused  by  writing  these 
pages  is  the  way  in  which  the  truth  of  the  old  proverb — 
Tempus  edax,  homo  edador,  is  exemplified.  Much  havoc  was 
doubtless  made  with  stained  glass,  with  monumental  remains, 
and  general  church  fittings,  in  the  sixteenth  century ;  yet 
more  havoc  was  done  during  the  disordered  times  of  the 
great  Civil  War;  but  when  we  come  to  inquire  of  the 
condition  of  Derbyshire  monuments  in  1662,  as  shown  by  the 
notes  of  Ashmole,  Dugdale,  and  St.  Loe  Kniveton,  and  of  the 
yet  later  accounts  of  Bassano,  about  1710,  it  is  obvious  that 


XV111  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

the  Georgian  period,  when  the  Church  was  at  its  lowest  ebb 
in  intelligence  and  energy,  was  also  the  time  that  was  far  the 
most  fatal  of  any  both  to  the  fabrics  themselves,  and  to 
all  that  was  comely  or  ancient  within  them.  The  Catholic 
revival,  too,  has  many  sins  of  its  own,  in  the  eyes  of  the 
arch  geologist  and  of  the  reverent  student  of  church  history,  to 
answer  for ;  some  of  the  Derbyshire  "  restorations "  have  been 
terribly  destructive  of  much  that  should  have  been  held 
sacred,  and  have  swept  away  that  history  of  religious  art 
which  could  previously  be  read,  from  century  to  century,  in 
the  furrowed  stones  of  their  walls  and  buttresses.  There  is 
much  to  be  regretted  in  certain  of  the  "restorations"  that 
have  taken  place  even  whilst  this  work  has  been  in  progress. 
On  one  point  I  desire  to  enter  a  most  earnest  protest,  viz., 
against  the  notion  that  any  honour  is  paid  to  God,  or  respect 
to  the  memory  of  those  that  He  created  in  His  own  image,  by 
burying  inscribed  gravestones  beneath  many  inches  of  concrete, 
in  order  to  stick  therein  the  glossy  tiles  of  recent  manufacture. 
The  effacing,  or  removal  (wherever  it  can  be  avoided),  of  the 
memorials  of  the  dead  should  in  all  cases  be  strongly  resisted, 
no  matter  what  be  the  eminence  of  the  architect  that  recom- 
mends it.  There  are  not  many  unrestored  churches  left  in 
the  county,  but  there  are  some  of  much  value  and  interest, 
for  whose  fate  we  tremble.  When  a  "restoration"  (the  term 
is  a  necessity  for  lack  of  a  better)  is  contemplated,  let  it  be 
recollected  that  all  work — beyond  the  removal  of  galleries  and 
modern  fittings,  the  opening  out  of  flat  plaster  ceilings  above 
which  good  timber  roofs  often  lie  concealed,  the  scraping  off 
the  accumulated  layers  of  whitewash  and  paint,  the  letting  in 
of  light  through  blocked-up  windows,  the  allowing  of  feet  to 
pass  through  doorways  closed  in  recent  days  by  the  mason 
or  bricklayer,  and  the  making  strong  of  really  perishing  parts 
— all  work  beyond  this  is  in  great  danger  of  destroying  the 
traces  of  the  historic  continuity  of  our  Church,  and  of  doing 
a  damage  that  can  never  be  repaired.  And  in  preserving  the 
traces  of  this  historic  continuity,  let  it  not  be  thought  that 
any  service  is  being  rendered  to  history  or  religion  by  sweep- 
ing clean  out  of  the  church  all  fittings  of  a  post-Reformation 
date.  The  sturdy  Elizabethan  benches  (still  remaining  in 


INTRODUCTION.  XIX 

several  Derbyshire  churches),  the  well-carved  Jacobean  pulpit, 
or  the  altar  rails  of  beaten  iron  of  last  century,  should  all  be 
preserved  as  memorials  of  their  respective  periods;  in  short, 
everything  that  our  forefathers  gave  to  God's  service  that  was 
costly  and  good  should  be  by  us  preserved,  provided  that  it 
does  not  mar  the  devout  ritual  ordered  by  the  Common 
Prayer,  or  in  other  respects  interfere  with  the  Church's  due 
proclaiming  of  her  divine  mission  to  the  nineteenth  century. 
The  reaction  against  over-restoration  is  now  happily  setting 
in,  but  a  word  of  caution  is  also  necessary,  lest  that  cry 
should  be  adopted  as  the  cloak  of  a  lazy  indifferentism,  or  be 
used  as  an  excuse  for  regarding  the  parish  church  as  a  local 
museum,  illustrative  of  byegone  times,  to  be  carefully  dusted 
and  nothing  more.  Where  much  new  work  or  any  consider- 
able extent  of  refitting  seem  absolutely  necessary,  it  is  best 
to  hasten  slowly,  and  to  do  a  little  well,  rather  than  to  aim 
at  a  speedy  general  effect.  Thus,  if  one  of  our  old  grey 
churches  requires  fresh  seating,  how  much  better  to  fill  a 
single  aisle,  or  one  bay  of  the  nave,  with  sound  and  effectively 
carved  oak,  and  only  repair  the  remainder,  rather  than  to 
accomplish  the  whole  in  glossy  deal.  The  best  materials  and 
the  best  art  should  surely  be  used  in  God's  service,  and  not 
reserved  to  feed  our  pride  or  minister  to  our  comfort  in 
private  dwellings.  It  would  be  invidious  for  me  here  to 
name  any  special  churches,  but  I  have  more  than  once 
noticed  how  far  better  the  work  of  redeeming  the  interior  of 
our  churches,  from  that  state  of  dirt  and  neglect  that  had 
degraded  some  at  least  below  the  level  of  the  very  barns 
upon  the  glebe,  has  been  carried  out  where  money  has  come 
in  slowly  and  at  intervals,  rather  than  where  some  munificent 
patron  has  readily  found  the  funds  to  enter  upon  a  big 
contract. 

To  C.  S.  Greaves,  Esq.,  Q.C.,  to  the  Rev.  Hugh  A.  Stowell, 
and  to  Captain  A.  E.  Lawson-Lowe,  F.S.A.,  I  am  specially 
indebted  for  their  kindness  in  sending  me  lists  of  errata  of 
the  previous  volumes,  which  have  been  of  the  greatest  service 
in  preparing  the  supplement.  My  friend,  Mr.  W.  H.  St.  John 
Hope,  has  been  of  much  help  to  me  in  many  ways  connected 
with  this  volume.  The  general  courtesy  that  I  have  received 


XX  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

from  all  to  whom  I  have  applied  for  help  or  information  has 
been  most  remarkable,  and  I  desire  once  again  to  gratefully 
acknowledge  the  aid  that  I  have  received  from  many  of  the 
clergy.  Not  the  least  pleasant  feature  of  this  work,  in  a 
personal  sense,  has  been  that  it  has  led  to  the  formation  of 
several  valued  friendships. 

It  is  with  genuine  sorrow  that  I  now  write  the  last  words; 
I  could  almost  wish  they  were  the  first,  for  I  leave  the  task 
with  so  much  regret.  And  though  more  has  now  been 
accomplished  for  the  churches  of  Derbyshire  than  has  yet 
been  done  for  the  churches  of  any  other  shire,  no  one  knows 
the  imperfections  of  these  pages  better  than  the  writer,  or  is 
more  fully  alive  to  several  particulars  wherein  their  plan 
might  have  been  improved.  The  lesson  it  has  taught  me 
has  been  one  of  incalculable  value,  for,  in  writing  the  history 
of  the  churches  of  Derbyshire,  I  have  learnt  to  see  how  this 
tiny  fragment  of  Christendom  is  but  a  unit  of  the  "  One 
Catholic  and  Apostolic  Church,"  founded  by  her  Divine  Lord. 
In  contemplating  with  loving  eyes  and  lingering  looks  these 
substantial  traces  of  the  costly  works  of  different  generations 
of  our  pious  forefathers,  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  all  the 
wealth  and  beauty  of  the  diverse  arts  that  they  consecrated 
to  the  service  of  God  in  brightening  His  sanctuary,  were  thus 
used  in  order 

"to  rouse  the  heart  and  lead  the  will 
By  a  bright  ladder  to  the  worlds  above ; " 

and  that  if  the  admiration  is  merely  confined  to  temples  built 
by  hands,  it  will  be  of  no  avail  at  the  last  to  plead — 

DOMINE  DILEXI   DECORUM   DOMUS  TlLE. 


CONTENTS. 


^untrrttr  of  ^torleston  mttr  Uttdjttrd). 


PACE 

ASTON-UPON-TRENT  ................................................  3 

BARROW-UPON-TRENT  ...............................................  15 

TWYFOBD     .................................................................  28 

CRICH     ....................................................................  33 

WAKEBRIDGE  ..............................................................  65 

ALL   SAINTS'  ..............................................................  69 

s.  MARY'S-ON-THE-BRIDGE     ..............................  ........  ......  102 

QUARNDON  ................................................  .................  107 

S.   ALKMUND'S  .....................................  .  .....................  113 

LITTLE    EATON   ................................................  .  ..........  127 

S.   MICHAEL'S   ..........................................................  131 

ALVASTON  ................................................  ..................  137 

S.   PETER'S     ...........................................................  145 

BOULTON    ...............................................................  156 

NORMANTON    ........  ........................................................  161 

OS1IASTON  ................................................................  163 

S.   WERBURGH'S  ..                                                               ......  171 


XX11  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

EGGINTON  183 

ELVASTON  195 

OCKBROOK   206 

KIRK  HALLAM 211 

MAPPERLEY     216 

WEST   HALLAM   219 

HEANOR  233 

HORSLEY     243 

DENBY 248 

ILKESTON    257 

KIRK  LANGLEY  267 

MACKWORTH 283 

ALLESTREE     293 

MICKLEOVER     303 

LITTLEOVER 309 

FINDERN 312 

POTLOCK    ...    316 

MORLEY  321 

SMALLEY    348 

PENTRICH  355 

SANDIACRE    365 

SAWLEY  378 

LONG   EATON 395 

WILNE    398 

BREASTON 406 

RISLEY 409 

STANTON-BY-DALE    415 

WESTON-UPON-TRENT...  .  423 


CONTENTS.  XXlil 

WILLINGTON 435 

SUPPLEMENT  TO  FIRST  VOLUME    441 

SUPPLEMENT  TO   SECOND  VOLUME    490 

SUPPLEMENT   TO   THIRD  VOLUME    521 

SUPPLEMENT   TO  FOURTH  VOLUME    532 

APPENDIX  537 

INDEX  OF  PERSONS ...: 545 

INDEX  OF  PLACES    561 

GENERAL  INDEX  TO   THE  FOUR  VOLUMES   .  .  564 


LIST    OF     ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

S.  PETER'S  CHURCH,  S.E (FRONTISPIECE). 

DETAILS  OF  ASTON,  AND  LECTERN  AT  MICKLEOVER 8 

CRICH  CHURCH,  S.E 32 

S.  MARY'S  BRIDGE  CHAPEL,  OLD  CHURCH  OF  S.  ALKMUND,  AND 

PARTS  OF  TOMB,  ALL  SAINTS' 102 

DETAILS  OF  SAXON  CROSSES,  S.  ALKMUND'S 122 

CHEST  AND  SLAB,  S.  PETER'S;  SLAB,  ALVASTON  154 

BOULTON  AND  ALVASTON  DETAILS;  FONT  CoVER,  S.  WERBURGH's  160 
EGGINTON,  EFFIGY;  ILKESTON,  EFFIGY,  SCREEN,  AND  CAPITAL...  190 

ELVASTON  CHURCH,  S.E 195 

FONTS — KIRK  HALLAM,  SANDIACRE,  ASTON,  S,  WERBURGH'S,  AND 

AT  DERBY  MUSEUM 214 

DENBY  CHURCH,  s.w 248 

SEDILIA  OF  ILKESTON  AND  KIRK  HALLAM 262 

MACKWORTH  CHURCH,  S.E 283 

MORLEY.  CENTRE  LIGHT  OF  EAST  WINDOW  OF  SOUTH  AISLE  ...  342 

SANDIACRE  CHANCEL,  s 365 

SANDIACBE,  SEDILIA,  PRIESTS'  DOOR,  AND  TOMB 370 

SAWLEY  CHURCH,  S.E 377 

SAWLEY,  CANON  BOTHE'B  TOMB  390 

WILNE  FONT  400 

WESTON-UPON-TRENT  CHURCH,  S.E :  423 

CHELMORTON  FONT  INSCRIPTION  .  498 


of 


anil    ki 


|T  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  Weston-on-Trent  was 
a  royal  manor,  to  which  pertained  the  two  lesser  manors, 
or  herewicks,  of  Aston  and  Shardlow.  Down  to  quite  a 
recent  date,  Aston  is  described  as  parcel  of  the  superior  manor 
of  Weston.  The  Domesday  Survey  makes  mention  of  two 
churches  on  the  manor  of  Weston,  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  the 
churches  of  Weston  and  Aston  are  thereby  signified.  Weston, 
cum  memlris,  had  been  held  by  Algar,  Earl  of  Mercia,  who  died 
in  1050,  but  it  was  forfeited  to  the  crown  through  his  rebellion. 
It  was  held  under  the  Conqueror  by  his  nephew,  Hugh,  Earl 
of  Chester,  the  chief  founder  and  benefactor  of  the  Abbey  of 
S.  Werburgh  at  Chester.  Upon  this  Abbey  Hugh  conferred  a 
third  of  the  manor  of  Weston  ;  and  other  grants  of  land  in 
Weston,  Aston,  Shardlow,  and  Great  Wilne,  were  from  time  to 
time  made  to  the  monks  of  Chester,  by  the  Verdous  and  others, 
who  held  of  the  crown  under  the  Earls  of  Chester.*  The 
advowson  of  the  rectory  of  Aston  seems  to  have  been  also  given  to 
the  Abbey  by  Hugh,  Earl  of  Chester;  at  all  events  it  was  in  the 
gift  of  the  abbot  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  Henry  III. 
granted  to  the  monks  a  weekly  market  at  Aston,  within  his  manor 
of  Weston,  and  also  a  fair  for  three  days  at  the  feast  of  S.  Peter,  f 
Edward  I.  granted  them  the  important  right  of  free  warren  over 
the  Derbyshire  manors  of  Aston,  Weston,  Shardlow,  Wilne,  Morley, 
and  Smalley.j  The  Taxation  Boll  of  1291  gives  the  annual  value 
of  Aston  rectory  at  the  large  sum  of  £33  6s.  8d.  In  the  year 

*  There  are  two  chartularies  of  the  Abbey  of  S.  Werburgh  extant,  viz.,  numbers 
1,965  and  2,062  of  the  Harl.  MSS.,  and  also  some  fragments  and  copies  of  charters  in 
number  2,073  of  the  same  collection.  They  contain  numerous  references  to  the 
property  possessed  by  the  Abbey  at  Aston,  Weston,  Morley,  and  in  other  parts  of 
Derbyshire. 

t  Chart.  Rot.,  41  Henry  III.,  and  Harl.  MSS.,  1,965,  f.  8. 

+  Harl.  MSS. ,  2,062,  f.  14. 


4  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1378,  the  abbey  obtained  tlie  papal  dispensation  for  the  appropria- 
tion of  the  benefices  of  Aston  and  Weston,  with  power  of  choosing 
the  vicars  to  supply  the  churches.*  This  appropriation  of  the 
tithes  was  subsequently  confirmed  by  two  successive  Bishops  of 
Coventry  and  Lichfield,  Walter  Shirland  and  Richard  Scroope,  as 
well  as  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  as  Metropolitan. f  On 
Lady  Day,  1494,  a  jury  reported  that  it  was  not  to  the  prejudice 
of  the  King  to  grant  to  the  Abbey  of  S.  Werburgh  the  appropria- 
tion of  the  churches  of  Aston  and  Weston,  the  advowsons  of  which 
were  held  in  chief,  as  parcel  of  the  foundation  charters  of  the 
Abbey ;  the  inquisition  gives  the  annual  value  of  Aston  rectory  as 
forty  marks. |  On  September  20th  in  the  following  year,  the 
Bishop  of  the  diocese  again  gave  his  license  for  the  appropriation 
of  these  rectories  when  next  vacant,  the  abbot  convenanting  to  pay 
a  pension  of  13s.  4d.  to  the  Archdeacon  of  Derby,  on  the  feast  of 
S.  Michael,  in  the  church  of  S.  Peter's,  Derby.  § 

It  is,  however,  not  a  little  remarkable  to  find,  after  all  the 
precautions  taken  to  secure  full  ecclesiastical  and  civil  license  for 
the  appropriation  of  the  revenues  of  Aston  Church,  that  on  the 
vacancy  occurring  by  the  resignation  of  rector  Henry  de  Coton 
in  1403,  the  Abbey  forfeited  its  claim,  and  allowed  the 
institution  of  another  rector.  The  same  thing  also  occurred  in 
respect  to  Weston,  so  that  there  never  were  vicars  of  either 
of  these  benefices.  The  Abbey  no  doubt  received  valuable  compen- 
sation from  those  interested  in  the  patronage  for  thus  waiving 
its  claim,  but  of  this  we  have  not  obtained  any  satisfactory 
evidence. 

During  the  time  that  Walter  de  Pinchbeck  was  abbot  of  S. 
Werburgh's  (1228-40),  William  de  Verdon,  junr.,  gave  to  Eoger, 
chaplain  in  the  church  of  Aston,  certain  lands  within  the  town 
and  field  of  Aston,  to  be  held  on  a  rental  of  two  shillings,  which 
was  to  be  paid  on  Christmas-day,  for  sustaining  the  lamp  of  S. 
Katharine  in  that  Church.  [|  Mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  the 

*  Pope  Clement  VII.  granted  this  dispensation  in  the  first  year  of  the  great  schism. 
He  was  the  first  of  those  who  resided  at  Avignon,  usually  termed  anti-popes.  Our 
historians  have  always  represented  that  England,  duiing  the  schism,  gave  its  entire 
support  to  Urban  VI.,  and  the  Popes  resident  at  Eome  (see  Hallam's  Middle  Ages, 
vol.  ii.,  p.  242  ;  Reichel's  See  of  Rome,  p.  444;  and  Hook's  Archbishops  of  Canterbury, 
vol.  iv.,  passim);  hut  we  have  come  across  several  instances  of  powerful  English 
monasteries  that  recognised  Clement  VII.  Had  his  dispensation  been  considered 
invalid,  it  would  not  have  been  copied  into  these  chartularies. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  2,062,  f.  5;  2,071,  ff.  38-9. 

J  Inq.  post.  Mort..  17  Ric.  II.,  No.  63.  This  is  really  an  Inq.  ad  quod  Damnum,  and 
is  wrongly  classified  at  the  Public  Record  Office. 

§  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers,  vol  vi.,  f.  102. 

!j  Harl.  MSS.,  1,965,  f.  10;  2,062,  f.  7. 


ASTON.  O 

chartularies  of  chaplains  of  Aston,  as  distinct  from  rectors  or 
parsons,  so  it  would  seern  that  there  was  a  chantry  priest  or 
chaplain  permanently  attached  to  this  benefice,  serving  the  altar 
of  S.  Katharine,  which  probably  stood  in  the  south  aisle.  This 
chantry  does  not  obtain  mention  in  the  Chantry  Roll  of  Edward 
VI.,  as  its  endowments  appear  to  have  been  held  by  the  Abbey, 
which  had  to  provide  the  priest,  and  they  would  therefore  have 
been  swallowed  up  in  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries. 

The  Valor  Ecclesiastic  us  (27  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  clear  annual 
value  of  this  rectory  as  £29  15s.,  and  of  the  temporalities  held  in 
Aston,  by  the  Abbey  of  S.  Werburgh's,  as  £18  9s.  9Jd.  The 
Abbey  also  held  lands  at  Shardlow  worth  £10  7s.,  and  at  Great 
Wilne  worth  £6  7s.  8d.  per  annum,  both  in  this  parish.  Special 
mention  is  made  of  the  2s.  that  had  to  be  paid  out  of  the  Aston 
rents  towards  sustaining  the  lamp  in  the  church. 

On  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  Henry  VIII.  granted  the 
Derbyshire  possessions  of  the  Abbey  of  S.  Werburgh's,  which 
included  the  advowsons  of  the  rectories  of  Aston,  Weston,  and 
Morley,  and  the  manors  of  Weston,  Aston,  Shardlow,  Great 
Wilue,  Morley,  and  Smalley,  to  the  new  Bishop  of  Chester.  But 
another  grant  of  Elizabeth  transferred  them  to  Henry  Sacheverell, 
and  an  additional  grant  of  the  first  of  James  I.  transferred  them 
to  Charles  Paget.  The  latter  was  attainted,  and  the  advowson 
of  Aston  and  the  rest  of  the  property  passed  once  more  to  the 
crown,  in  the  tenth  of  James  I.,  'who  in  the  same  year  granted 
it  to  Anthony  Roper,  and  his  wife,  Maria,  and  then-  heirs  and 
assigns.* 

In  16-49,  Robert  Holden  (who  had  previously  purchased  other 
property  here  from  the  Hunts)  bought  the  manor  and  advowsou  of 
Aston  from  the  Ropers,  and  it  has  remained  in-  their  hands  up  to 
the  present  time.  Robert  Holden,  who  died  in  1746,  left  an  only 
daughter  and  heiress,  who  married  James  Shuttleworth,  but  their 
fourth  son,  Charles,  on  succeeding  by  bequest  to  this  property, 
took  the  name  of  Holden.  - 

The  following  is  the  inventory  of  church  goods  drawn  up  in 
1552  :— 

"  Aston  uppon  Trent.  Oct  5.  Jo  Bande  Curate,  j  chalyce  of  sylver  parcell 
gylte  with  a  patten — v  vestments,  j  whyte  bodkeu,  j  grene— iij  albes— iij  amyses 
— toe  corporassess  with  a  case — ij  coppes,  j  whyte  badwen  &  j  of  rede  sey — v 
aulter  clothes — v  towells — iij  bells  on  the  stepull — ij  handbells — j  canope  of  whyte 
clothe  with  a  pyx  of  brasse — j  crosse  of  masslen — j  sanctus  bell." 

*  Patent  Eolls,  10  James  I.,  part  23,  No.  13. 


G  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners  of  1650  report : — 

"Aston  super  Trent  is  a  parsonage  really  worth  one  hundred  and  foure  score 
pounds  per  annum,  noe  Chappell  apperteyning.  Mr.  Thomas  Palmer  is  Incumbent 
an  able  preacher  and  of  good  conversason." 

The  following  list  of  rectors  and  patrons  is  chiefly  compiled 
from  the  Episcopal  Begisters,  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits 
Office  :— 

1304.  John  de  Sandale;  patron,  the  King. 

1310.  Henry  de  Derby,  acolite ;  patron,  Abbot  of  Chester.     On  the  resignation  of 

J.  de  S. 

1312.  Robert  de  Frodesham ;  patron,  Abbot  of  Chester. 
1319.  Henry    de    Walton;    patron,    Abbot    of    Chester.     On    the    resignation    of 

E.  de  F. 
1330.  Thomas    de    Bonyngton;    patron,    Abbot    of    Chester.     On    the    death    of 

H.  de  W. 

1334.  John  de  Herincton. 
.  William  de  Herincton. 
.  Richard  de  Okeley. 

1336.  John  de  Hertfordton.    On  the  resignation  of  E.  de  O. 
1349.  John  de  Okeley.     On  the  death  of  J.  de  H. 

.  Richard  de  Okeley. 

1369.  Henry  de  Coton,  deacon.  On  the  death  of  E.  de  O. 
1403.  Edward  de  Button.  On  the  resignation  of  H.  de  C. 
1454.  Roger  Bulkeley;  patron,  William  de  Bulkeley  de  Eyton  (for  this  turn).  On 

the  resignation  of  E.  de  S. 
1461.  Robert  Sheppart;  patron,  Abbot  of   Chester.     On  the  resignation  of  E.  B., 

to  whom  a  pension  of  24s.  was  secured. 
1480.  Richard  Shyrbourn.      On  the  resignation  of  E.  S.,  to  whom  a  pension   of 

£10  was  to  be  paid  out  of  the  fruits  of  the  rectory  for  two  years. 
1499.  Philip  Agard  ;  patron,  Abbot  of  Chester.     On  the  death  of  E.  S. 
1517.  Michael  Sutton  ;  patron,  Eichard  Sutton  and  John  Sutton,  by  concession  of 

the  Abbot  of  Chester.     On  the  death  of  P.  A. 

1520.  Thomas  Pyrton;  patron,  Abbot  of  Chester.    On  the  death  of  M.  S. 
1547.  John  Whalhede;  patron,  Sir  William  Paget.    On  the  death  of  J.  P. 
1552.  John  Whitby ;  patron,  Sir  William  Paget.    On  the  death  of  J.  W. 
1557.  Alexander  Barloe  ;  patron,  Sir  William  Paget.     On  the  death  of  J.  W. 
1617.  John   Porter ;   patron,    Joanna   Porter,  widow,  for   this   turn,  on   behalf    of 

Charles  Paget,  and  Anthony  Eoper  and  Maria  his  wife. 
1636.  Richard  Clerke;  patron,  Henry  Clarke.    On  the  death  of  J.  P. 
(1650).  Thomas  Palmer.    Ejected,  1662.* 
1681.  Edward  Holden;  patron,  Samuel  Holden. 
1702.  Thomas  Holden;  patron,  Eobert  Holden. 
1729.  John  Rolleston;  patron,  Eobert  Holden. 

1770.  John  Augustine  Pinch ;  patrons,  James  Shuttleworth  and  his  wife. 
1774.  Charles  Edward  Shuttleworth ;  f  patrons,  Mary  Shuttleworth,  widow,  and 

others. 

*  "  He  had  been  formerly  Minister  of  S.  Lawrence  Poultney  Church  in  London, 
from  whence  he  remov'd  to  this  Place :  And  he  was  remov'd  from  hence  soon  after  the 
Eestauration  of  King  Charles,  to  make  way  for  Mr.  Clark  a  Prelatical  Divine,  who  had 
been  Eject'd  there  many  Years  before.  About  July,  1663,  he  was  imprisou'd  in 
Nottingham  for  Preaching  in  Conventicles." — Calamy's  Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii., 
p.  205. 

t  He  obtained  a  dispensation  to  hold  this  rectory  in  conjunction  with  that  of 
Loughton,  Leicester.  Pegge's  MSS.  vol  v. 


ASTON.  7 

1796.  Nathaniel  Palmer  Johnson;*  patron,  Charles  Holden,  Clerk. 

1850.  Francis  Augustus   Weekes;    patron,  Samuel  Ashton,  Prestwich.      On  the 

death  of  N.  P.  J. 
1865.  James  Richard  Holden. 
1867.  John  Ayton  Whitaker. 
1869.  James  Shuttleworth  Holden. 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  consists  of 
nave  with  side  aisles,  chancel  with  north  aisle  or  chapel,  north 
and  south  porches,  and  west  tower.  Its  dimensions  are : — nave 
25  ft.  2  in.  by  12  ft. ;  north  aisle  or  chapel  57  ft.  8  in.  by  12  ft. 
9  in.;  south  aisle  33  ft.  5  in.  by  15  ft.  6  in.;  and  chancel  35  ft.  5  in. 
by  15  ft.  6  in.  The  lower  stage  of  the  tower  is  of  late  Norman 
date,  opening  to  the  nave  by  a  plain  semi-circular  arch,  the  imposts 
of  which  are  carved  with  the  hollow-square  ornament.  On  the  north, 
south,  and  west  are  Norman  windows,  having  shafts  in  the  jambs. 
In  the  west  wall  of  the  tower  is  a  modern  round-headed  doorway, 
and  over  it  a  narrow  two-light  lancet  window,  quite  plain,  and 
without  any  hood-mould,  but  the  splay  in  the  interior  is  rounded. 
It  seems  to  be  a  transition  wiudow  of  the  time  of  Henry  II. 
When  Sir  Stephen  Grlyun  visited  this  church,  May  5th,  1866,  he 
noticed  a  small  closed  Norman  window  over  the  south  arcade  of 
the  nave,  but  it  does  not  now  remain. 

The  three  arches  that  separate  the  nave  from  the  south  aisle, 
supported  on  circular  columns  with  octagonal  capitals  and  on  large 
wedge-shaped  responds,  are  of  the  Early  English  period.  The 
arcade  between  the  nave  and  the  north  aisle  is  very  similar,  but 
of  rather  later  date.  The  two  arches  between  the  chancel  and  the 
continuation  of  the  north  aisle  are  also  Early  English.  To  this 
period,  too,  belongs  the  interesting  font  (Plate  X.),  which  stands 
at  the  west  end  of  the  church.  It  consists  of  a  plain  octagonal 
bowl,  supported  by  a  cylindrical  stem,  and  four  detached  shafts. 
The  diameter  of  the  bowl  is  27  inches,  and  it  is  42  inches  high. 

The  windows  of  the  south  aisle  are  good  examples  of  the 
Decorated  style  of  the  first  half  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

The  three-light  south  window  of  this  aisle,  nearest  the  east  end, 
is  remarkable  for  the  ogee-headed  canopies  in  the  jambs,  an 
unusual  feature,  rarely  found  except  in  Cathedral  or  Abbey  churches 
(Plate  II).  Note  the  corbels  of  these  two  canopied  niches,  especially 
the  one  nearest  the  west,  which  is  evidently  the  base  of  a  Jesse- 
tree,  or  emblematical  representation  of  the  genealogy  of  Christ. 

*  There  is  a  mural  slab  to  the  memory  of  this  rector  at  the  east  end  of  the  north 
aisle.  He  died  Oct.  25th,  1850,  aged  86,  having  been  rector  of  Aston  for  54  years. 


8  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

The  stone  carving  shows  the  prostrate  sleeping  Jesse  with  the  main 
branches  growing  forth  from  him,  and  the  leaves  and  branches  of 
the  different  generations  would  most  likely  be  continued  in  fresco 
up  the  sides  of  the  niche.  The  niche  itself  would  probably  contain 
a  figure  of  our  Lord,  or  of  the  Virgin  and  Infant.  The  arch  leading 
into  the  chancel  is  pointed,  the  mouldings  carried  down  with  octagonal 
shafts.  The  three  south  windows  of  the  chancel  are  long,  curious, 
transomed  windows  of  two  lights,  and  are  of  the  time  of  Eichard 
II.,  when  the  Decorated  style  was  in  the  course  of  transition  to 
the  Perpendicular. 

To  the  Perpendicular  period  pertain  the  two-light  square-headed 
clerestory  windows,  also  the  windows  of  the  north  aisle  (except  the 
west  one,  which  is  Decorated),  and  the  upper  stage  of  the  tower 
with  its  battlements  and  four  pinnacles.  The  clerestory  and 
chancel  are  embattled,  but  not  the  aisles.  The  east  chancel 
window  has  Perpendicular  tracery,  but  it  is  only  coeval  with  the 
modern  memorial  glass.  The  two  porches  are  new.  This  church 
has  been  most  carefully  restored  within  the  last  few  years  by  the 
late  Mr.  Holden.  A  gallery  which  was  then  removed  had  been  put 
up  by  the  Trent  and  Mersey  Navigation  Company  in  1788. 

A  small  portion  of  black  letter  text,  temp.  Elizabeth,  may  be 
noticed  under  the  tower.  There  are  some  fine  old  massive  benches 
of  oak  of  the  same  date  in  the  nave.  A  few  old  encaustic  tiles, 
with  an  effective  pattern  of  a  floriated  cross,  were  found  during  the 
restoration.  Those  that  now  pave  the  sanctuary  are  a  reproduction 
of  this  pattern.  The  modern  oak  stalls  of  the  chancel  are  well  and 
carefully  carved,  and  as  they  are  the  work  of  a  carpenter  of  the 
village,  it  is  pleasant  to  be  able  to  give  his  name — George 
Halliday. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  chancel  arch  is  a  rood-loft  door. 

The  square  opening  of  a  "low  side  window,"*  now  blocked  up, 
should  be  noticed  on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel  (Plate  II). 
The  most  ancient  detail  about  the  fabric,  which  serves  as  an  in- 
teresting link  with  the  pre-Norman  days,  when  our  forefathers  revered 
the  true  faith  on  this  same  site,  is  the  portion  of  the  Saxon  church- 
yard or  memorial  cross,  of  a  reticulated  pattern,  now  built  into  the 
west  wall  of  the  north  aisle  (Plate  II).  f  In  the  pier  to  the  north 

*The  subject  of  "low  side  windows"  has  been  fully  explained  in  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  iii. ,  under  Spondon  and  Bavenston ;  see  also  the  subsequent  account 
of  Barrow  Church  in  this  volume. 

t  Compare  Plate  XII.  of  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  where  drawings  are  given 
of  the  ancient  crosses  of  Taddington,  Eyam,  Hope,  and  Bakewell. 


DLATE. 


ASTON.  9 

side   of  the  chancel   has  been  built  the  head  of   an  incised   cross, 
which  has  at  one  time  formed  part  of  a  sepulchral  slab. 

The  principal  monument  in  this  church  now  stands  against  the 
north  wall  of  the  north  aisle.  Its  position  used  to  be  (as  we  learn 
from  several  MSS.,  Bassano,  Meynell,  etc.)  under  the  arch  nearest 
the  west  end  between  the  chancel  and  the  north  chapel.*  It 
consists  of  an  alabaster  altar  tomb  on , which  rest  the  effigies  of  a 
man  and  his  wife,  hand  in  hand.  The  man  wears  a  long  thickly 
plaited  robe  with  hanging  sleeves,  and  on  his  head  is  a  round  flat 
cap  of  three  folds.  The  hair  is  cut  off  short  above  the  ears.  His 
wife  wears  a  long  mantle,  and  a  small  dog  lies  at  her  feet.  The 
gown,  which  is  fastened  with  a  large  plain  buckle,  has  tight-fitting 
sleeves.  Her  head-dress  is  of  the  style  sometimes  termed  "butterfly," 
having  wide  side  cauls,  elaborately  interlaced,  and  a  light  veil  over 
the  coiffure.  The  costume  of  these  figures  gives  the  date  of  the 
monument  to  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  (1422-61).  On  the  south  side 
of  this  tomb  are  three  angels  holding  shields,  bearing  respectively  : 

(1)  a  chevron  engrailed  between  three  escallops,  impaling ; 

(2)  a   chevron   engrailed   between   three    escallops ;    (3)    a   chevron 
engrailed   between   three    escallops,    impaling   vaire.      On   the   west 
end  are  two  more  angels  holding  between  them  a  shield,  bearing  : 
a  chevron  engrailed   between    three    escallops,   impaling    a   chevron 
between    three    crescents.     We    find   from   Bassano's    notes    (1710), 
that  there   were,  on  the   side  which  is  now  against  the  wall,  three 
coats,  viz.  :    the  chevron  and   escallops,  impaling  vaire — a  chevron 
between    three    crescents — and    the    chevron    and    escallops.      But 
notwithstanding  this  heraldry,  we  cannot  identify  the  tomb  with  any 
precision  ;    though   the   consideration   of    the   mural   monument   on 
the  wall  above  it  will  be  an  aid. 

On  this  is  inscribed  :  — 

"  Prope  Sepeliuntur  corpora  Thomfe  Hunt  Generosi  &  Alicise  uxoris  ejus 
Robert!  Hunt  filii  et  hseredis  Thomse  &  Alicise  una  cum  Catharina  uxore  Roberti 
qui  pro  Sobole  habuerunt  Johannem  Hunt  generosu  qui  matrimonial!  fcedore 
conjunctus  erat  Annse  filise  Johan  Kime  genero'  Netting'  &  iste  Job.  Hunt  ista 
insignia  posuit  in  futuri  temporis  memoriam,  H>25." 

Above  the  slab  are  the  following  quartered  arms,  surmounted  by 
the  crest  of  a  bugle : — (1)  arg-.,  a  bugle,  sab.,  on  a  chief,  gu.,  three 
mullets  pierced  of  the  field.  (2)  sab.,  a  chevron  engrailed,  ermine, 
between  three  escallops,  arg.  (3)  arg.,  a  chevron  between  three 


*  This  north  chapel,  or  continuation  of  the  north  aisle,  would  doubtless  be  used  as 
the  chapel  of  Our  Lady  ;  the  altar  of  S.  Katharine  stood  in  the  south  aisle. 


10  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

crescents,  or*  (4)  ary.,  a  greyhound  courant,  sab.,  collared,  or.  The 
first  of  these  quarterings  is  for  Hunt,  and  the  last  for  Holford, 
co.  Chester,  but  the  second  and  third  are  doubtful.  This  quartered 
coat  is  given  with  the  Visitation  pedigrees  of  Hunt,  of  Ashover, 
but  unfortunately  the  quarterings  are  not  identified,  nor  do  the 
pedigrees  go  back  early  enough  to  show  how  they  were  obtained. t 

The  family  of  Hunt,  of  Ashover  and  Aston,  is  said  to  have 
been  settled  at  the  former  place  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry 
III.,  but  the  pedigrees  only  begin  with  John  Hunt,  who  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Cotes,  towards  the  end  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  Their  eldest  son,  Christopher,  married  Dorothy,  sister  of 
William  Bassett,  and  died  in  1540,  seized  of  one  capital  messuage, 
two  cottages,  and  260  acres  of  land  at  Aston. J  His  son  and  heir 
Thomas  (mentioned  on  the  monument),  married  Alice,  daughter 
of  Eobert  Baiubridge,  of  Lockington,  and  Dorothy,  daughter  of 
William  Skevington,  for  his  second  wife.  Eobert,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Alice  Hunt,  married  Catharine,  daughter  of  Thomas  Eathbone, 
of  Stone,  co.  Stafford,  and  their  sou  and  heir,  John,  was  aged 
fourteen  at  the  Visitation  of  1611. 

This  John,  who  put  up  the  monument  to  his  parents  and  grand- 
parents, also  gave  the  present  holy  table.  Eouud  the  edge  is 
carved  Ex  dono  Johannis  Hunte  1630  anno  (Btatis  35,  and  the  crest 
of  a  bugle  horn. 

It  has  generally  been  said  that  Christopher  Hunt  was  the  first 
of  the  family  who  had  property  at  Aston,  but  the  quarterings  on 
the  mural  munument,  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  heraldry  of 
the  altar  tomb,  prove  that  a  Hunt,  earlier  than  any  mentioned  in 
the  pedigrees,  must  have  married  the  heiress  of  the  arms  of  the 
2nd  quarter  (a  chevron  between  three  escallops), §  the  representative 

*  The  coat,  as  given  in  Harl.  MSS.,  should  be  az.,  a  chevron,  gu.,  between  three 
crescents,  or.  The  quarterings  on  the  monument  have  been  carelessly  repainted. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  1,093,  f.  116  ;  5,809,  f.  61 ;  and  Egertou  MSS.,  996,  f.  33. 

J  Meynell  MSS. 

§  These  arms,  tinctured  as  above,  were  borne  by  Farewell,  of  Somerset,  and  Farway, 
of  Devon,  but,  on  referring  to  their  pedigrees  (Harl.  MSS.,  1,559,  ff.  126b,  91b),  we 
cannot  find  any  connection  between  them  and  Hunt,  or  indeed  with  Derbyshire  in 
any  way.  The  following  reply,  in  answer  to  a  query  of  ours,  appeared  in  Notes  and 
Queries,  5th  S,  x.  p.  151 : — "  The  arms  on  the  monument  in  the  church  of  Aston-on- 
Trent,  and  inquired  for  by  Mr.  Cox,  are — 1,  Hunt;  2,  Chedder;  3,  Stakepoule  or 
Barkerolles  ;  4,  Holford.  The  knightly  family  of  Chedder,  whose  arms  are  given  in 
the  second  quarter,  were  of  the  county  of  Somerset,  but  they  may  have  had  property 
at  Aston.  A  co-heir  of  this  family  married  Sir  John  Talbot,  Viscount  L'Isle,  who 
was  killed  with  his  father,  the  renowned  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  at  the  battle  of  <  Ihas- 
tillon,  in  1453.  This  marriage  may  perhaps  assist  to  verify  the  arms.  The  tincture 
of  tbe  third  quarter  cannot  be  correct.  The  chevron  should  be  either  argent  or  or. 
Azure,  a  chevron  arg.  between  3  crescents  or,  is  borne  of  Stakepoule,  and  az.,  a 
chevron  between  3  crescents  or,  by  Barkerolles.  There  is  a  Derbyshire  family, 
Blackwall,  whose  arms  have  great  affinity  to  those  of  Holford:  Arg.,  a  greyhound 
courant,  sable,  collared,  or  ;  or  a  chief  indented,  sable.  3  besauts. — G.  D.  T.,  Hudders- 
field." 


ASTON.  1 1 

of  some  family  unknown,   who  were  landowners  in  Aston,  and   to 
whom  the  altar  tomb  pertains. 

Against  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  brass,  thus  inscribed  : 

"  Prope  sepelitnr  Johannes  Porter  artium  Magister  Theologus  sincer'  &  quondam 
rector  hujus  ecclesise  dignissimus  Vir  Sapiens  doctus  plus  hospitalis  et  amicis 
charissimus  qui  placide  in  Domino  expiravit  Jan.  23  A°  Dni  1636  A°  setatis  46." 

On  the  stone  on  which  the  holy  table  stands  is  inscribed  : — 

"Edwardus  Houlden  ob.  Sept.  die  Junii  A.D.  1653  set.  49. 

Robertus  Houlden  ob.  quart,  die  Nov.  A.D.  1654  set.  25. 

Robertas  Houlden  ob.  quart,  die  Jan.  A.D.  1659  set.  64. 

Mary  Houldeu  ob.  quart,  die  Jan.  A.D.  1668  set.  23. 

John  Houldeu  ob.  quart,  die  Feb.  A.D.  1739  set.  55. 

Hannah  Lathwell  ob.  Sept.  die  Feb.  A.D.  1687  set.  72. 

These  inscriptions  record  six  tablets  laid  beneath  the  floor  at  the  time  of  the 
Restoration  of  the  churchA.D.  1867." 

Though  the  restoration  of  this  church  seems  for  the  most  part 
to  have  been  carried  out  with  exceptional  carefulness,  we  cannot 
but  express  our  great  regret  that  any  memorial  stones  should  have 
been  covered  up.  Fortunately  these  inscriptions  are  given  in  full 
in  Glover's  Derbyshire,  and  we  there  find  two  other  inscriptions 
of  some  importance,  which  we  looked  for  in  vain,  and  which  we 
fear  also  disappeared  at  the  restoration.  One  of  these  is  a  long 
genealogical  epitaph  to  Eobert  Porter,  Fellow  of  Ah1  Souls',  Oxford, 
and  others  of  that  family,  erected  by  John  Porter,  rector  of  Aston, 
in  1635.  The  other  runs  as  follows  : — 

"Prope  sepelitur  corpus  Johannis  Sale  fratris  Willim  Sale  rectoris  hujus 
ecclesise  qui  extremum  diem  clausit  quinto  die  mensis  Julii  A.D.  1572."* 

There  are  also  mural  slabs  to  Eobert  Holden,  1746 ;  Mary 
Shuttleworth,  wife  of  Eev.  C.  Shuttleworth,  1777;  Mary  Shuttle- 
worth,  wife  of  James  Shuttleworth,  1791 ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Eev. 
Charles  Holden,  1795  ;  Eev.  Charles  Holden,  1821,  his  third  wife, 
1820,  and  their  son,  aged  13,  1817  ;  Antonia  Henrietta,  second 
daughter  of  Eev.  C.  Holden,  1849,  and  her  husband,  Colonel 
Clowes,  1862. 

A  brass  tablet  within  the  sacrarium  runs  as  follows  : — 

"To  the  glory  of  God,  and  in  memory  of  Edward  Shuttleworth,  d.  Sep.  8,  1855, 
aged  18;  Charles  Shuttleworth,  d.  Aug.  6,  1872,  aged  34;  William  Arthur 
Shuttleworth,  d.  Jan.  18,  1856,  aged  5 ;  sons  of  Edward  Anthony  and  Susan 
Drummond  Holden,  of  Aston  Hall,  this  sanctuary  was  adorned  A.D.  1873. 

'Lord,  Thou  hast  been  our  refuge  from  one  generation  to  another.' — Ps.  xl.   1." 

There  are  two  stained  glass  windows  to  the  above-named  Edward 
Shuttleworth,  1855,  and  to  two  of  his  sisters,  1867  and  1869. 

*  With  respect  to  the  Sales,  see  the  subsequent  account  of  Weston  Church. 


12  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

The  tower  contains  a  ring  of  four  bells. 

I.  "  John  Taylor  &  Sons  Founders  Loughbrough  1847." 

II.  "  Jhesus  be  our  spede  1590,"  in  Lombardic  capitals,  and  with 
the  bell-mark  of  Henry  Oldfitld. 

III.  "  Jesus    be   our   spede    1594,"    in    Lombardic    capitals.      In 
addition  to  the  mark  of  Henry  Oldfield,  this   bell  has  a  very  fine 
stamp  of  the  arms  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  with  motto,  supporters,  etc., 
and  the  initials  E.  E. 

IV.  "  All  men  that  heare  my  mournful  sound  Eepent  before  you 
lye  in  ground,  1661,"  and  the  mark  of  George  Oldfield. 

The   registers   only   date   back   to  the  year  1667,  and  contain  no 
entries  of  special  interest. 


•Parroto. 


HIS  parish,  usually  distinguished  as  Barrow-upon-Trent, 
comprises  the  hamlets  or  townships  of  Arleston,  Sinfin, 
and  Stenson,  and  the  parochial  chapelry  of  Twyford. 
At  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  the  manor  of  Barrow 
formed  part  of  the  estates  of  Ralph  Fitzhubert,  and  it  is  recorded 
that  it  possessed  a  priest  and  a  church.  One  portion  of  the  manor 
was  regarded  as  subordinate  to  the  royal  manor  of  Melbourn,  and 
as  such  formed  part  of  the  original  endowment  of  the  bishopric  of 
Carlisle,  when  it  was  founded  in  1133  by  Henry  I.  It  remained 
in  the  hands  of  that  see  till  1704,  when,  as  parcel  of  the  rectory 
manor  of  Melbourn,  it  was  enfranchised  by  Act  of  Parliament.* 
But  the  manor  proper  of  Barrow,  including  the  church,  was  at  an 
early  date  in  the  family  of  Bakepuze.  Probably  it  was  in  the 
hands  of  Robert  de  Bakepuze,  benefactor  of  Abingdon  Abbey,  soon 
after  the  compilation  of  the  Domesday  Survey.  In  the  time  of 
Henry  II.,  Robert  de  Bakepuze  gave  the  church  of  Barrow  to  the 
Priory  of  S.  John  of  Jerusalem,  otherwise  known  as  the  Knights 
Hospitallers. t  John  de  Bakepuze,  the  son  of  Robert  (and  probably 
great  graudson  of  the  original  donor),  in  the  year  1288,  confirmed 
the  grant  of  the  rectory  of  Barrow,  stating  that  he  did  it  for  the 
health  of  the  souls  of  himself  and  his  wife  Cecilia,  as  well  as  for 
the  souls  of  his  ancestors  and  posterity.;}:  At  the  same  time  he 
confirmed  grants  of  laud  in  Barrow  pertaining  to  the  Brethren  of 
the  Hospital. 

*  Quo  Warranto  and  Hundred  Bolls,  temp.  Edw.  I. ;  see  also  account  of  Melbourn 
church  in  vol.  iii. 

t  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  ii.,  p.  547,  where  the  mistake  originated  of  making  the 
gift  of  B.  de  B.,  refer  to  the  church  of  Barrow  in  Cheshire,  instead  of  in  Derbyshire. 
For  particulars  relative  to  the  connection  of  the  family  of  Bakepuze  with  this  county, 
see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  5,  6,  195. 

I  Liber  Niger  de  Nedewood,  16  Edw.  I.,  as  quoted  in  Add.  MSS.,  6,666.  f.  32.  He 
describes  the  rectory  as  "  ecclesiam  meam  de  Barowe  <jue  sita  est  in  feodo  meo  super 
Trent  in  com.  Derb." 


16  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

In  the  year  1388,  Brother  Philip  Tharne,  Grand  Prior  of 
England,  drew  np  a  full  report  of  the  income  and  possessions  of 
the  Order  in  England.  JBarrow  was  then  esteemed  one  of  the 
smaller  estates,  termed  camera,  or  chambers,  that  were  under 
independent  management.  The  camera  of  Barrow  was  under  a 
bailiff,  and  its  gross  income  (of  which  no  less  than  £30  was 
returned  as  the  value  of  the  rectory)  was  £36  2s.  This,  after 
deducting  £12  15s.  4d.  for  expenses  and  pensions,  left  a  balance  of 
£23  6s.  8d.  for  the  general  treasury.* 

At  some  date  prior  to  1433,  the  camera  of  Barrow  was  annexed 
to  the  preceptory  or  bailiwick,  of  Yeaveley,  which  was  henceforth 
known  by  the  joint  title  of  Yeaveley  and  Barrow,  until  the 
dissolution  of  the  property  of  the  Order  temp.  Henry  VIII.  Mass 
was  sung  for  the  soul  of  Eopert  de  Bakepuze  every  Sunday  within 
the  chapel  of  the  preceptory  at  Yeaveley.  f 

In  a  chartulary  relating  to  the  lands  of  the  Knights  Hospitallers, 
between  the  years  1503  and  1526,  there  are  numerous  references 
to  this  joint  preceptory.;};  In  1504,  William  Darel,  preceptor  of 
Yeaveley  and  Barrow,  leases  all  fruits,  rents,  appurtenances,  tithes, 
oblations,  and  advowsons  pertaining  to  this  preceptory,  to  Thomas 
Babington,  of  Lea,  for  three  years,  at  £26  2s.  lid.  per  annum, 
subject  to  the  annual  payment  to  the  prior  of  Tutbury,  of  his 
pension  of  £3,  to  the  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  of  13s.  4d.,  and  to  the 
seneschal  of  the  court  of  the  said  prior  of  40s.  pro  feodo  SIM.  The 
lessee  was  also  to  find  a  priest  to  celebrate  in  the  preceptory 
chapel  at  Yeaveley.  In  1509,  Brother  John  Babington, §  preceptor 
of  Yeaveley  and  Barrow,  leased  the  preceptory  to  Thomas  Babing- 
ton, of  Lea,  and  to  Anthony  Babington,  of  Kingston  (his  son  and 
heir),  for  one  year  at  £26  2s.  lid.,  but  for  the  second  and  third 
years  at  £72.  It  was  subject  to  the  same  payments,  and  to  the 
exercise  of  honourable  hospitality  within  the  preceptory. 

The  following  interesting  farm  inventory  was  drawn  up  on  the 
entry  of  Thomas  Babington  into  the  estate  :- — 

"  THTES  BEE  the  parcells  of  catell  and  corne  and  of  other  Implementes  to  be  left 
by  Thomas  Babington  or  by  his  assignes  at  thende  of  his  terrne  within  specified 

*  Porter's  Knights  of  Malta,  vol.  i.,  cap.  9 ;  Hospitallers  in  England,  p.  109  (Camden 
Society).  See  Appendix  II.  for  details  of  the  1338  return. 

f  See  our  account  of  the  preceptory  of  Yeaveley,  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii., 
pp.  279-283,  and  Appendices  IX  and  XA. 

I  Cott.  MSS.,  Claud.  E.  vi.,  ff.  5,  68,  68b,  156,  210,  263,  and  277.  There  are  other 
extant  chartularies  of  this  Order  (Cott.  MSS.,  Nero  E.  vi.,  and  Landsdowne  MSS., 
200),  but  they  afford  no  information  with  respect  to  Yeaveley  and  Barrow. 

§  With  respect  to  the  Babingtons,  especially  of  those  here  mentioned,  see  Churches 
of  Derbyshire,  vol.  i.,  under  Lea,  Dethick,  and  Ashover. 


BARROW.  1 7 

or  elles  the  price  of  the  same.  OF  CATELL  xij  oxen  price  vjli.  It.  xij  kye  price 
iiijli.  It.  a  cowe  geven  by  Willim  Bentley  to  upholde  seynt  John's  light  price 
vjs.  viijd.  It.  a  bull  vjs.  viijd.  OP  COBXE  vj  quartes  of  Whete  price  the  qrt.  vs. 
It.vj  qrts.  of  Eye  price  the  qrt.  iiijs.  It.  x  qrts.  of  Pesen  price  the  qrt.  ijs.  viijd. 
It.  Ixxx  busshells  of  otes,  ij  stryke  to  the  busshell,  price  the  busshell  3d.  06. 
PLOUGHEGERE  viij  yrone  tymtes  (?)  price  vs.  iiijd.  It.  x  owkes  yroned  iijs.  iiijd.  It. 
ij  Weynes  and  the  Wheles  xijs.  It.  ij  harroes  with  yrones  price  ijs.  It.  ij  plowghes 
with  eares  of  yron  price  xxd.  It.  ij  cutters  xvjd.  It.  ij  shares  xijd.  It.  ij  muk 
rakes  iiijd.  It.  ij  payre  of  clevys  viijd.  It.  ij  pryk  forkes  iiijd.  Sm.  totalis 
xvijZi.  vs.  iiijd." 

On  April  24th,  1516,  there  is  a  renewal  from  Jolm  Babington,  as 
preceptor,  to  his  father,  Thomas  Babington,  for  two  years  at 
£26  2s.  lid.,  and  for  a  third  year  at  £72.  In  1522  the  same 
preceptor  grants  this  estate  to  Edward  Ehoche  (preceptor  of 
Templebrewer),  and  to  Humphrey  Babington  (mother  of  John  B.), 
for  two  years  at  £26  2s.  lid.,  and  for  the  third  year  at  £62.  On 
May  1st,  1526,  Ambrose  Leytou,  who  succeeded  Sir  John  Babington 
in  this  preceptory,  leased  it  conjointly  to  Sir  John  (who  had 
meanwhile  been  promoted  to  the  much  more  lucrative  preceptory 
of  Dalby  and  Eothley),  to  Thomas  Redeman,  of  London,  gent.,  to 
Anthony  Viualde,  merchant,  and  to  Brother  John  Mabilsteyn,  for 
two  years  at  £26  2s.  lid.,  and  for  the  third  year  at  £90. 

At  the  same  date  Thomas  Docwra,  Grand  Prior  of  England, 
granted  to  Ralph  Pemberton,  yeoman  of  Barrow- on-Trent,  a  twenty- 
nine  years'  lease  of  the  rectory  of  Barrow  with  all  its  tithes,  lands, 
meadows,  pastures,  profits,  and  appurtenances,  after  the  same  manner 
as  it  had  lately  been  farmed  by  William  Bothe.  The  rental  was 
fixed  at  £20,  and  it  was  further  covenanted  that  if  the  preceptor, 
Ambrose  Ley  ton,  should  at  any  time  whilst  he  held  that  office, 
build  or  repair  the  large  room*  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hall,  that 
Ralph  Pemberton  was  to  provide  all  the  workmen,  both  smiths  and 
bricklayers,  with  food  and  drink  at  his  own  expense. 

We  believe  that  the  preceptory  house  of^  the  Hospitallers  was 
situated  at  Arleston  in  this  parish,  where  there  are  extensive 
foundations  of  ancient  buildings.  Here  would  be  the  residence  of 
the  Bailiff  of  the  camera  of  Barrow  (where  hospitality  was  exercised 
before  the  estate  was  joined  to  that  of  Yeaveley),  which  seems 
to  have  been  subsequently  occupied  by  the  farmer  of  the  rectory 
manor.  The  substantial  stone-built  basement  of  a  large  hah1,  some 
75  feet  by  21  feet,  yet  remains,  apparently  of  fourteenth  century 

*"Cameram  conclavem  seu  promptuarium,"  i.e.,  chamber,  dining-hall,  or  store- 
house, but  we  take  these   expressions  to  be   synonymes  for  a  large   unfinished  or 
ruined  building,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hall,  which  might  be  finished  so  as  to  be  used 
for  any  of  these  purposes.     See  Appendix  III.,  where  the  agreement  is  given  in  full. 
3 


18  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

workmanship,  supported  by  buttresses,  and  this  has  at  a  subsequent 
date  been  finished  in  brick,  and  converted  into  a  farm-house.  But 
this  latter  work  (though  perhaps  the  earliest  part  of  it  may 
be  of  late  sixteenth  century  date)  is  subsequent  to  the 
dissolution  of  the  Order,  and  could  not  have  been  carried  out 
during  the  tenancy  of  Ralph  Pemberton.  There  seems  good 
reason  to  suppose  that  this  is  the  structure  referred  to  in  Ralph 
Pemberton's  lease,  and  which  had  either  been  left  unfinished, 
or  allowed  to  fall  into  ruin. 

Seeing  that  Pemberton's  lease  of  the  rectory  of  Barrow,  and  the 
lease  of  the  preceptory  to  Sir  John  Babington  and  three  others  are 
dated  on  the  same  day,  it  is  clear  that  the  rectory  was  held 
separately  from  the  general  estate  of  the  preceptory ;  it  also 
appears  from  other  sources  as  if  it  had  been  farmed  by  the  Bothes 
for  upwards  of  a  century  before  the  death  of  William  Bothe  in  1521. 

After  the  Order  was  dissolved,  part  of  the  rectory  manor  was 
transferred  by  the  crown  to  the  family  of  Beaumont ;  but  the 
larger  part  was  granted  to  Richard  Harpur,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Common  Pleas,  and  his  descendant,  Sir  John  Crewe,  is  at  the 
present  time  the  impropriator  or  lay  rector.  The  advowson  of  the 
vicarage,  which  was  for  a  time  with  the  Beaumonts,  has  changed 
hands,  by  sale,  very  repeatedly. 

The  following  list  of  vicars  of  Barrow,  is  chiefly  compiled  from 
the  Episcopal  Registers  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits 
Office  :— 

.  Roger  Caldewell. 

1313.  John  de  Belton,  rector  of  Crayke,  Durham,  exchanged  benefices  with  R.  C., 
vicar  of  Barrow;  patron,  Philip  de  Thame,*  Grand  Prior  of  England  of  the 
Order  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem. 

1349.  William  le  Cok  de  Barrow;  patron,  Philip  de  Thame,  Grand  Prior. 

1381.  Richard  Bars ;  f  patron,  Robert  de  Hales,  Grand  Prior. 

1434.  John  Clement ;  patron,  Robert  Malloy,  Grand  Prior. 

1439.  William  Eleyston;  patron,  Robert  Malloy,  Grand  Prior. 

1462.  William  Wolfett;  patron,  William  Eleyston,  the  late  vicar,  acting  for  the 
Grand  Prior. 

1470.  William  Brown  ;  patron,  John  Langstrother,  Grand  Prior.  On  the  resigna- 
tion of  W.  W. 

1500.  William  Frankishe;  patron,  Thomas  Newport,  "  receptor." £  On  the  death 
of  W.  B. 

*  For  a  short  account  of  the  respective  Grand  Priors  of  England,  who  are  patrons  of 
this  vicarage,  see  Porter's  Knights  of  Malta,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  283-5. 

f  Richard  Bars  was  chaplain  of  S.  Katharine's  chantry,  Melbourne.  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  400. 

I  Sir  Thomas  Newport,  a  member  of  a  distinguished  Shropshire  family,  was 
Receiver-General  of  England  He  was  probably  acting  for  the  Grand  Prior,  during 
a  temporary  absence.  Sir  Thomas,  during  the  siege  of  Rhodes,  1522,  persisted  in 
embarking  from  Dover  in  a  violent  storm,  and  was  lost  off  the  coast  of  Spain,  with  all 
his  forces. 


BARROW.  19 

].j41.  Thomas  Wylson ;  patrons,  John  Smythe  de  Wythcote,  and  Eobert  Chaun- 
trell  de  Sybbertofte,  in  place  of   the  lately  dissolved  Order.      On  the  death 
of  W.  F. 
1555.  William  Benryngton ;  patrons,  Michael  Halsted  and  Hugo  Halsted,  yeomen. 

On  the  death  of  T.  W. 
.  Michael  Sanington. 

1560.  John  Hill;  patron,  Edward  Beaumont.     On  the  resignation  of  H.  S. 
1566.  Thomas  Robinson;  patron,  Edward  Beaumont. 

*  *  *  * 

1638.  Gervase  Wheeldon :  patron,  Francis  Beaumont. 

1657.  Daniel  Shelmerdine ;  patrons,  the  parishioners. 

1662.  Roger  Farmer;  patron,  Nicholas  Wilmot. 

1675.  Robert  Norman ;  patron,  Nicholas  Wilmot. 

1752.  Edward  Lilly ;  patron,  John  Tempest  Borrow. 

1756.  Walter  Fletcher;    patron,  John  Tempest   Borrow.      On  the  resignation  of 

W.  F. 

.  John  Hutchinson. 
1803.  Richard   George   Robinson ;   patron,  John   Barrow,  of   Alvaston.    On   the 

death  of  J.  H. 

1825.  William  Heacock  ;  patron,  Lord  Scarsdale.     On  the  death  of  R.  G.  R. 
1838.  John   Latham  ;    patron,   John    Latham.      On    the    resignation   of    William 

Heacock. 
1855.  Joseph  Edwards ;  patron,  Ambrose  Moore,  of   Upper  Berkeley  St.     On  the 

resignation  of  J.  L.     A  Resignation  Bond  was  signed  between  this  vicar  and 

the  patron. 

1870.  J.  H.  Hughes  ;  patron,  Ambrose  Moore.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  E. 
1873.  George  Arthur  Smallwood;    patron,  Ambrose  Moore.      On  the  resignation 

of  J.  H.  H. 

1876.  D.  C.  Cochrane ;  patrons,  representatives  of  Wilson  Moore.     On  the  resig- 
nation of  G.  A.  S. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners  of  6  Edward  VI.,  made  the 
following  report  respecting  Barrow  : — 

"  Barro.  Oct.  6.    Thos.  Wylson  Vicar. 

j  chalys  of  sylver  parcell  gylt — iij  vestments — iij  albes  j  of  sylke  &  the  other  ij  of 
chaungable  cruell — iij  alter  cloythes  — j  coope  of  cruell — iij  towells — ij  corporaxis 
with  iij  caysis~j  orosse  of  copper — j  cruyt  of  leyd  —iij  belles  in  y9  steple — 
j  byble  with  a  boke  of  comonen  (Holy  Communion)." 

The  Parliamentary  Survey  of  livings,  in  Lambeth  Palace  Library, 
taken  in  1650,  gives  the  following  particulars  relative  to  this 
parish  : — 

"Barrow  is  a  viccaridge  really  worth  thirteene  pounds  thirteene  shillings  and 
foure  pence  per  annum. 

"  Sir  John  Harpur  upon  his  late  Composison  settled  twentye  pounds  per  annum 
more  forth  of  the  Impropriate  Rectorye  of  Barrowe.  There  is  one  chappell  diuers 
hambletts  apperteyuing  (vizt). 

"Barrow  itselfe  in  vicarall  Tythes  ffive  pounds.  Item  the  said  Augmentasou 
twentie  pounds  maye  convenientlye  be  vnited  to  Swarkstone  in  the  hundred  of 
Repton  the  church  there  being  something  inlarged. 

"Item  Twyford  is  an  appertenanse  and  hath  a  chappell  the  vicarall  tythes  there 
and  in  Stenson  are  worth  six  pounds  thirteeue  shillings  and  ffoure  pence  per 
annum. 


20  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

"  Item  Sinfin  and  Arlestone  two  small  hambletts  apperteyning  the  vicarall  tythes 
•worth  about  ffortye  shillings  per  annum  may  be  joyiied  wUl  Twyford  and  the 
chappell  there  made  a  parish  church. 

"  Mr.  Gervase  Weildou  is  vicar  a  man  of  noe  good  repute." 

Sir  John  Harpur  was  allowed  by  the  Parliament  to  compound 
for  his  estates  in  Derbyshire  for  the  sum  of  £4583.  On 
January  10th,  1645,  it  was  ordered  that  "  Sir  John  Harpur,  of 
Swarkeston,  do  settle  £110  per  annum — £20  on  the  vicarage  of 
Barrow,  £40  on  the  church  of  Ticknall,  and  £50  on  the  church  of 
Eepton,  for  which  he  is  to  be  allowed  £588,  and  so  his  fine  of 
£4583  be  reduced  to  £4000."* 

The  church,  which  has  the  unusual  dedication  of  S.  Wilfred,t 
consists  of  nave  with  side  aisles,  south  porch,  chancel,  and  tower 
at  the  western  end.  There  are  no  remains  of  the  fabric  of  Norman 
date.  The  dimensions  are  : — nave  44  ft.  5  in.  by  18  ft.  5  in.  ; 
north  aisle  43  ft.  3  in  by  16  ft. ;  south  aisle  44  ft.  3  in.  by  13  ft. 
4  in. ;  and  chancel  20  ft.  8  in.  by  17  ft.  7  in.  The  earliest  work 
is  to  be  seen  in  the  pillars  supporting  the  three  arches  that 
separate  the  nave  from  the  north  aisle.  These  pillars  are  of  early 
English  date  and  have  clustered  banded  shafts.  The  respond  at 
the  west  end  has  similar  banded  shafts.  These  shafts  are  broken 
away  in  places,  and  the  sounding  board  of  the  pulpit,  when  in  its 
old  position,  spoilt  one  of  the  capitals.  That  the  church  must  have 
been  rebuilt  much  on  its  present  plan  about  the  beginning  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  III.,  is  evident  from  the  outer  buttresses  both  of  this 
and  the  south  aisle,  which  are  of  Early  English  character.  Another 
considerable  "  restoration  "  of  the  church  took  place  in  the  first 
half  of  the  fourteenth  century,  when  the  Decorated  style  prevailed. 
The  north  and  west  windows  and  plain  pointed  doorway  of  the 
north  aisle,  and  the  lower  stage  of  the  tower,  with  its  five-light 
west  window  of  intersecting  mullions,  seem  to  have  been  the  work 
of  one  period,  circa  1300.  The  three  arches,  supported  on  octagon 
pillars,  that  divide  the  south  aisle  from  the  nave,  the  three-light 
east  window  of  reticulated  tracery,  and  the  other  windows  of  that 
aisle,  now  destitute  of  tracery,  together  with  the  large  south  porch, 
and  the  east  window  of  the  north  aisle,  are  perhaps  some  twenty 
or  thirty  years  later.  The  chancel  arch  and  the  north  chancel 
door  are  also  of  Decorated  date. 

*  Book  of  Sequestrations,  Meynell  MSS. 

f  There  are  31  old  dedications  of  English  churches  to  S.  TTilfred.  Three  of  these, 
Barrow,  Egginton,  and  W.  Hallam,  are  iu  Derbyshire.  S.  Wilfred  was  Bishop  of  York 
and  Confessor  709. 


BARROW.  2 1 

In  the  Perpendicular  period  the  tower  was  repaired  throughout, 
and  the  present  upper  stage  with  the  belfry  windows  added.  The 
pinnacles  aud  battlements  have  been  renewed  after  a  very  poor 
fashion  at  a  much  later  date.  The  chancel  has  a  Perpendicular 
three-light  window  on  the  south  side,  and  a  round-headed  priest's 
door,  probably  of  this  date,  now  blocked  up.  This  door-way  is 
close  to  the  present  east  end,  but  it  is  quite  evident  that  the 
chancel  has  originally  been  carried  a  bay  further  towards  the  east, 
and  has  been  thus  docked  off  at  a  later  period,  probably  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  for  economical  reasons  relative  to  its  repair. 
The  present  east  window  is  of  a  debased  character,  and  quite  an 
eyesore  to  the  church.  At  the  same  time  that  the  chancel  was 
shortened,  the  clerestory  windows  (inserted  in  the  Perpendicular 
period)  were  most  likely  stripped  of  tracery  and  rnullions,  and 
reduced  to  their  present  plain  proportions.  The  roofs  of  the  nave 
aud  chancel  are  nearly  flat,  aud  of  modern  date,  those  of  the  aisles 
are  plastered. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  small  "  two-side  window," 
with  a  trefoil  head,  now  blocked  up.  The  hall  and  the  chief  part 
of  the  village  seem  to  have  been  always,  as  they  now  are,  on  the 
north  and  not  on  the  south  side  of  the  church,  and  we  obtain 
thereby  a  strong  confirmation  of  the  theory  that  these  windows 
were  usually  for  the  purpose  of  allowing  the  attendant  at  mass  to 
ring  the  sanctus  bell  outside,  to  warn  the  people  of  the  time  of  the 
elevation  of  the  Host.* 

Behind  the  north  chancel  pier  is  a  low  archway  communicating 
with  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle ;  it  may  possibly  have  served 
in  some  sense  as  a  squint.  Through  this  same  pier,  but  looking 
into  the  nave,  is  a  loop-hole  opening,  only  about  a  foot  above  the 
floor.  It  is  not  in  a  position  in  which  it  could  have  been  available 
as  a  squint,  and  we  can  only  conjecture  that  it  is  part  of  the 
masonry  of  an  older  church,  and  that  it  was  not  intended  to  be 
opened,  as  has  been  recently  done  by  a  too  enthusiastic  restorer. 
At  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  genuine  squint,  giving  a 
view  of  the  high  altar,  and  near  by  is  the  doorway  that  formerly 
led  on  to  the  rood  loft.  Against  the  south  wall  of  this  aisle  is  a 
shallow  sedile  with  a  trefoil  head,  and  also  a  small  piscina.  The 
font,  which  stands  at  the  west  end  of  the  north  aisle,  is  of  plain 
octagon  shape  and  probably  of  Perpendicular  date.  It  is  40  in. 
high,  and  82  in.  in  diameter. 

*  Churches  of  Derbynhire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  418. 


22  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

In  the  tower  are  three  bells,  thus  inscribed  :  — 

I.  "  God  save  the  church,  1613."     Bell  mark  of  George  Oldfield. 

II.  "  Ave  Maria,"  in  highly  ornamented  Lombardic  capitals. 

III.  "  Sancta  Elena,"  in  similar  lettering  to  the  second  bell. 
The    east    end    of   the    north    aisle   pertained  to   the    manors    of 

Arleston  and  Sinfin,  and  here,  until  about  the  commencement  of 
the  present  century,  were  memorials  to  at  least  six  generations  of 
the  ancient  family  of  Bothe,  of  whom  we  shall  have  more  to  say 
in  the  account  of  the  church  of  Sawley.  They  were  extensive 
landowners  in  this  parish. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  the  Bothes  were 
seized  of  the  manor  of  Siufin,  which  had  previously  pertained  to 
the  Toukes.  The  manor  of  Arleston  was  conveyed  to  John  Bothe 
in  1426,  whose  descendant  William  Bothe,  died  seized  of  it  in 
1521  ;  but  this  conveyance  was  probably  only  a  recovery  deed 
from  trustees,  as  we  know  from  the  monumental  inscriptions  that 
it  was  in  then*  hands  at  an  earlier  date.  This  William  and 
several  of  his  ancestors  also  held  lands  at  Barrow,  under  the  Prior 
of  S.  John  of  Jerusalem.* 

On  an  alabaster  gravestone  were  the  incised  figures  of  a  knight 
and  his  lady,  and  round  the  margin  this  inscription : — \ 

"Hie  jacent  Johes  Bothe  mil.  filius  et  heres  Henrici  BotheJ  quondam  domini 
de  Erleston  et  Margareta  uxor  ejus  filia  et  heres  de  Thomas  Petinore  Knygtys  (?) 
Thorpe  qui  quidem  Johes  obiit  quinto  decimo  die  mensis  Maij  Anno  Domini 
MCCCCXIIII  (?)  Lra  Dnicalis  G.  et  p'dicta  Margereta  obiit  sexto  die  Aprilis  A.D. 
MCCCCLXII  (?)." 

"  On  a  wall  in  the  same  church : — 

"  Henry  Bothe  of  Iretyes  (?)  sometyme  of  Erlaston  ob.  8  Jul.  fryday  at  none 
A»  1446."§ 

"  Upon  part  of  an  alibaster  stone  entering  into  ye  Chancel  is  ye 
portraiture  of  a  man  in  armour  cap  a  pie.  In  ye  inscription  is 
John  Bothe  and  ye  yeare  MCCCCLXXXIV  "  (Bassano).  This  we  believe 

*  Meynell  MSS.     Fines  5  Hen.  VI. 

t  This  and  the  following  inscriptions  are  given  in  the  text  after  comparing  the 
church  notes  of  1662,  in  the  Dodsworth  MSS.,  vol.  Ixxxii.,  p.  4?A,  with  those  of 
Bassano  in  1710,  and  another  version  preserved  in  the  Meyuell  MSS. 

I  The  incised  slab  to  Isabella,  daughter  of  John  de  Fimlern,  and  wife  of  Henry 
Bothe,  is  still  extant  at  Findern  church.  There  is  probably  something  wrong  about 
one  or  other  of  the  dates  of  this  inscription,  most  likely  a  figure  has  been  misread, 
and  the  death  of  John  should  be  1444,  and  not  1413.  Sir  Henry  Bothe,  of  Arleston, 
presented  to  the  rectory  of  Norbury  in  1424 ;  his  daughter  Alice  was  the  first  wife  of 
Sir  Nicholas  Fitzherbert,  tenth  Lord  of  Norbury.  Their  impaled  arms  are  still  in  a 
window  of  that  church,  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  231,  etc.  Most  likely 
Sir  Henry  Bothe  died  in  1424,  for  in  that  year  we  find  John  Bothe  (and  Joan  his  first 
wife)  presenting  to  the  rectory  of  Stretton-in-the-Fields,  and  again  in  1437  ;  Churches 
of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  487. 

§  Dodsworth  MSS.,  probably  a  younger  son  of  John  of  the  last  monument. 


BARROW.  23 

to    be   the    son    and  heir   of   the    last   named  John.     He   had    two 
sons,  William  and  Ealph,  to  hoth  of  whom  there  were  monuments. 
On   a  marble  stone  in  the   Arleston  quire  were  the  brass  effigies 
of  William  and  Isabella  Bothe,  with  this  inscription  : — 

"  Hie  jacent  Wm  Bothe  arm.  filius  et  heres  Johis  Bothe  quondam  Domini  de 
Herleston  et  Isabella  uxor  ejus  filia  Kadi  Poole  de  Radborue  qui  quidem  Wm 
obiit  .  .  .  die  .  .  .  1521  Lra  Dominicalis  B.  et  ipsa  Isabella  obiit  12  Maij  A°  Iol4."* 

On  another  stone  adjoining  : — 

"Hie  jacet  Radus  Bothe  fratr'  Wm  Bothe  de  Erleston  arm.  qui  quidem  Radus 
obiit  14  Sep.  A.D.  1510." 

"  Close  to  ye  north  wall  is  a  little  raised  tomb  of  Alibaster  and 
upon  ye  covering  stone  are  ye  faire  portraitures  of  a  man  and 
woman  with  hands  elevated  and  at  feet  5  children,  but  part  of  ye 
stone  here  broken  off.  Upon  ye  stone  is  here  circumscribed" 
(Bassauo) : — 

"  Orate  pro  animabus  Johis  Bothe  armig.  et  Johanne  uxoris  .  sue  quiquidem 
Johes  obiit  7  die  Julij  A°  1531.  Quorum  animabus  propicietur  Deus  Ameu." 

This  John  Bothe  was  son  and  heir  of  William  and  Isabella 
Bothe.  He  was  the  last  of  the  Bothes  of  this  parish,  for  about 
this  time  their  manors  of  Arleston  and  Sinfin  were  transferred 
to  the  Blounts,  from  whom  they  subsequently  passed  to  tbe 
Harpurs.  There  was  also  a  tomb  to  Joyce,  daughter  of  John 
Bothe,  having  this  inscription  : — 

"  Hie  jacet  Jocosa  Sherley  uxor  Thome  Sherle  ar :  filia  Johis  Bothe  de  Erleston 
ar :  qui  Jocosa  ob.  12  July  A°  Dni  1523."f 

"  Towords  the  east  end  of  ye  lie  in  a  large  fair  stone  of 
Alibaster  appears  ye  head  of  a  man  his  hair  short  and  ye  crown  of 

*  It  seems  that  William  Bothe's  first  wife  was  Margaret  Assheton.  At  all  events  on 
May  21st,  1486,  an  episcopal  dispensation  was  obtained  for  his  marriage  with  the  said 
Margaret,  who  was  related  to  him  in  the  fourth  degree  of  consanguinity.  Lichfield 
Registers,  vol.  xii..  f.  155. 

His  will,  dated  September  25th,  1520,  leaves  his  body  to  be  buried  in  the  parish 
church  ''by  my  wyff,  betwixt  ray  father  and  grandfather."  He  left  5  Ib.  of  wax  and  7 
torches  to  be  burnt  at  his  burial,  10s.  to  the  church  of  Barrow,  10s.  to  the  church  of 
Twyford,  10s.  to  All  Saints',  Derby,  10s.  to  the  Friar  Preachers  of  Derby,  10s.  for 
a  treutal  of  masses,  10s.  for  the  repair  of  Swarkeston  Bridge,  and  10s.  for  the 
"  roodegeld ''  (i.e.,  Guild  of  the  Rood)  of  Repton.  Further: — "I  bequeathe  to  John 
Bothe  who  shall  be  my  heir  after  me  my  Stuff  in  the  Chappell  that  is  to  wit  West- 
ments  chalis  masseboke  portuses  and  all  that  I  have  belonging  to  the  said  Chappell." 
This  chapel  was  clearly  not  in  the  parish  church  or  it  would  have  been  thus  described, 
nor  did  it  pertain  to  any  private  manor  house  of  his  own,  in  which  case  it  would 
have  been  cited  as  '•  my  chapel."  We  have  no  doubt  that  it  was  the  chapel  pertain- 
ing to  the  camera  or  estate  building  of  the  Knights  Hospitallers,  at  Arleston,  which 
(as  we  have  already  stated)  was  held  by  the  Bothes  under  the  Order. — Probate 
Court,  Lichfield. 

t  Thomas  Shirley,  second  son  of  John  Shirley,  of  Eatingtou  and  Shirley,  succeeded 
under  his  father's  will,  to  a  life  interest  in  an  estate  called  "  The  Fostery,"  in  Hope- 
dale  in  the  Peak.  There  was  no  issue  to  his  marriage  with  Joyce  Bothe.  Stemmata 
Shirleiana,  p.  41. 


24  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

his  head  shaven.  On  ye  middle  of  ye  stone  is  a  cross  in  a  Footing 
of  4  greeces  on  ye  one  side  of  it  is  a  chalice  ....  Upon  ye  south 
side  of  ye  Chancell  within  an  ovall  or  round  is  a  cross  fleury." 

In  addition  to  all  these  monuments,  Bassano  also  gives  the 
following  details  respecting  heraldic  glass  that  was  then  (1710),  in 
the  windows  of  the  north  aisle  : — 

"  In  west  window  of  north  He. 

1.  Gules  2  Lyons  or. 

2.  Gules  2  Lyons  or  a  File  of  5  poynts  azure  each  charged  with  3  bezants. 

3.  Gules  a  fess  between  6  crosses  botony  or. 
In  north  window  of  this  He. 

1.  Quarterly  gules  and  or  in  ye  first  Quarter  sex  de  foyle. 

2.  Azure  within  an  orle  of  Stars  or  a  coat  of  pretence  Quarterly  gules  and  or. 

3.  Argent  a  fess  gules  between  3  eaglets  displayed  sable. 
In  another  north  window. 

1.  Gules  a  cross  argent. 

2.  Or  upon  a  fess  gules  3  flowers  de  lis  or. 

3.  Checkey  or  and  azure. 

In  ye  last  window  of  ye  Isle  is  twice  ye  armes  of  England,  gules  3  Lyons  passant 
guardant. 

Below  or  a  frett  gules,  joynt  of  every  frett  charged  with  so  many  plates, 
Neare  to  it  in  ye  same  range  is  gules  3  long  fishes  naiant  among  8  crosslets 
gobony  argent. 

Another  partition  in  ye  same  range  is  sable  a  cinque  foile  within  an  orle  of 
mantlets  argent." 

We  do  not  know  the  precise  date  when  the  utterly  scandalous 
destruction  of  all  the  monuments  and  glass  named  above  took 
place,  but  it  was  about  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 
They  had  almost  all  disappeared  when  Mr.  Meynell  was  here  in 
1812,  and  Mr.  Kawlins,  on  visiting  the  church  in  1821,  though 
there  were  then  two  Bothe  slabs  remaining,  says  : — "  there  were 
formerly  several  other  fine  alabaster  memorials  for  the  Bothes  in 
the  north  aisle,  which  the  hands  of  violence  have  destroyed,  either 
by  pounding  them  into  mortar,  or  casting  them  aside  in  portions 
to  repair  the  parish  roads." 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  north  aisle  is  a  monument  bearing 
the  foUowing  inscription  : — 

"  Here  lieth  buried  ye  bodye  of  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Henrye  Milward  of 
Sindfen,  gent  Shee  had  issue  5  sons  and  5  daughters  by  her  said  husband  she 
deceased  y6  27th  day  of  September  1610  ye  said  Henrye  deceased  25th  of  January 
1615  and  lyeth  buried  in  S*  Warburghs  Clrurche  in  Darbye.  To  whose  memories 
John  Milward  of  London  their  youngest  childe  hath  erected  these  monuments. 

A  faithful,  loving,  cheerful  wife,  her  husband's  comfort  she, 
Elizabeth  was  ever  found  modest  and  wise  to  bee ; 
Good  housewife  and  good  housekeeper,  still  helpful  to  the  poor, 
A  neighbour  kinde,  by  all  approv'd,  according  to  her  store. 


BARROW.  25 

A  matrone  wisp,  a  mother  deare,  52  yeares  a  wife, 

A  lover  of  God's  word  and  church,  during  her  mortal  life  : 

And  after  72  years  pains,  all  greife  and  sickness  past, 

Her  Saviour  deare  she  now  enjoys,  in  joy  which  aye  shall  last. 

I.  M."* 

In  the  north  east  angle  of  the  chancel  is  a  raised  tomb,  having 
this  inscription  :  — 

"Here  lieth  the  bodie  of  William  Sale,  of  Barrow,  gentleman,  sonne  of  Richard 
Sale  of  Weston  clarke,  deceased  the  17th  of  November  1065,  setate  sue  74." 

He  was  the  founder  of  the  family  of  the  Sales  of  Barrow, 
who  are  still  landowners  in  the  parish. t 

On  the  floor  of  the  chancel  is  a  slab  to  Cicely  Beaumont,  wife 
of  Kobert  Beaumont,  of  Barrow,  and  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir 
Thomas  Beaumont,  of  Gracedieu  ;  she  died  in  1695,  aged  47  To 
her  husband,  who  died  in  1726,  there  is  another  slab ;  he  married 
Jane,  widow  of  Francis  Lowe,  of  Owlgreaves,  for  his  second  wife, 
and  thirdly  Winifred,  daughter  of  Francis  Lowe.;}:  This  Kobert 
Beaumont  was  fourth  in  direct  descent  from  Edward  Beaumont, 
who  settled  at  Barrow  about  the  year  1550,  having  obtained  a 
grant  from  the  crown  of  part  of  the  lands  that  had  pertained  to 
the  Knights  Hospitallers  at  Barrow.  William  Beaumont,  son  and 
heir  of  Edward,  died  33  Elizabeth ;  he  held  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  of  the  Queen,  as  of  her  manors  of  Greenwich.  § 

In  the  south  wall  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  rounded  arched  recess. 
Within  it  is  the  alabaster  effigy  of  a  priest  in  Eucharistic  vest- 
ments, with  the  feet  resting  on  a  dog.  The  head  rests  on  a 
cushion,  and  has  been  supported  by  two  small  angels,  but  these,  as 
well  as  the  hands  and  other  parts,  are  now  broken  off.  The  date 
of  the  recess  is  uncertain,  but  the  effigy  is  of  the  fourteenth 
century,  and  probably  represents  the  ecclesiastic  who  then  rebuilt 
this  aisle.  Below  the  squint  in  the  north-east  angle  of  this  aisle, 
is  a  sepulchral  recess  of  a  later  date,  now  empty,  but  apparently '  of 
a  period  more  nearly  coeval  with  the  effigy  of  the  ecclesiastic  than 
that  in  which  it  is  now  resting. 

Over  the  east  window  of  the  chancel  may  be  noticed  part  of  an 
incised  sepulchral  slab  of  an  early  date. 

The   registers  begin  in    1657,  at   which  date   Daniel  Shelmerdine 

*  See  the  account  of  S.  Werburgh's  church  in  this  volume,  also  Churches  of  Derby- 
shire, vol.  ii.,  pp.  165-6,  633,  and  vol.  iii.,  pp.  123-4. 
t  See  the  subsequent  account  of  Westou  Church. 
J  There  is  a  good  pedigree  of  Beaumont,  of   Gracedieu  and  Barrow,  in  Glover's 

Derbyshire. 

§  Meyueil  MSS. 


26  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

was  chosen  by  the  parish  as  their  minister.  His  entries  do  not 
continue  beyond  February  3rd,  1658.  The  regular  registration 
begins  in  1662.  From  the  first  volume  we  take  the  following 
entries  and  interpolations  : — 

1662.  Memd  that  Mr  Roger  Farmer,  Minister  of  Congerston  in  Leicestershire,  was 
made  Minister  of  Barrow-super-Trent,  in  Derbyshire. 

1666.  Mr  Robert   Norman,    Curate   to    Old   Mr  Sam.  Bold,  of    Mickleover,  married 
Eliz.  Hegge,  December  12. 

1675.  Mr    Roger    Farmer    resigned    Barrow,    July    27.       I,    Robert    Norman,    was 
presented  to  Barrow-cum-Twyford. 

1678.  Maria  filia  Danielis  Shelmenliue    de   Finderne  Sepulta  fuit  decimo   secnudo 
Octobris. 

1683.  Memd  that  the  great  frost  begun  in  November,  and  lasted   about  13   weeks, 
ending  in  February. 

1693.  Hugh  Latimer  Peregrinus  de  Congerston  (who  was  drown'd  in  the  Trent  and 
found  by  Pickering's  house  at  Barrow),  sepult.  May  1. 

1699.  Gulielmus  Drable  (a  stranger  and  a  poor  man  coming  from  Hulland  Ward  in 
Derbyshire  being  foimd   suddenly  dead  on  Sunday  morning  March  26th  was 
buried    in    Twyford    Churchyard    Monday    27    after    Mr    Charles    Adderley 
Coroner  had  sate  uppon  him  (he  was  found  dead  on  Stenson  Green). 
Jacobus  Hurd  de  Stenson    Bachalauraus  qui   in  Aqua   Trenti  irnmersus   die 
Veneris  vigesinio  tertio  sepultus  fuit  Sancti  Johannis  Baptis  die  Mr  Charles 
Adderley  Coroner  sate  upon  him  in  Twyford  Church,  June  24. 
Memd  Mr  Daniel    Shelmardine    was   borne    at    Matlock   in   Derbyshire    and  was 

baptised  Anno  Dom.  1639.     He  was  chosen  by  the   Parish  of  Barrow  to  be  their 

minister  in  Cromwell's  time  being  then  about  twenty  years  old  [a  word  or  two 

here   are   doubtful].     The   said   Mr  S.  came   to  Barrow  about  March  25,  1657,  and 

staid  till  Bartholomew  1662  and  then  put  out. 
Danie]  Shelmerdine  also  formerly  minister  of  Barrow-sup-Trent  dyed  at  Findern 

in  the  Parish  of  Mickleovor  on  Sunday  night  (October  22,  1699)  about   sun-setting 

and  was  buried  in   Finderne   Church   by  Mr  Ward  then  minister   of    Mickleover 

(who  preached  his  fu;nerall  Sermon  on  Tuesday  24  following.      His  text  was  upon 

1  Cor.  15,  35). 
Mr  Moore   (then   living  at   Derby)  a    Nonconformist  minister  preached  another 

funerall  Sermon  the  same  night  by  candle-light  in  the  meeting  House  at  Findern 

upon  ye  same  occasion.      His  text  John  5,  28,  29. 

Memd  that   one  Mr  Pike  a  nonconformist   minister    (then   living    at   Burton-on- 

Trent  in  Staffordshire)  preached  another  funerall  sermon  in  the  meeting  house  of 

Findern  aforesaid  upon  the  same  occasion  on  Sunday  November  5  following.     His 

text  was  2  Tim.  4,  6,  7,  8. 

Memd  that  a  Sunday  or  two  after  v8  sd  MT  Pike  one  Mr  Woodhouse  then  living 

at  Diseworth  Grange  preached  upon  the  same   occasion,  whose  text  was  in  Luke 

23,  27,  28.« 

*  Daniel  Shelmerdine  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Shelmerdine,  minister  of  Crich,  and 
subsequently  of  Matlock.  Dr.  Calamy  says  that  he  was  born  at  Crich  on  New  Year's 
Day,  1636  or  1637.  He  was  educated  at  Repton  and  Christ's  College,  Cambridge. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Classical  Presbytery  of  Wirksworth  (of  which  his  father  was 
often  Moderator),  on  May  20,  1657,  and  was  first  chaplain  in  the  family  of  Colonel 
Grevis,  of  Moseley,  Worcestershire.  Thence  he  went  to  Barrow-cum-Twyford,  which 
he  held  till  1662.  Afterwards  he  rented  a  farm  at  Twyford  for  seventeen  years.  He 
was  several  times  imprisoned  and  suffered  much  for  nonconformity.  "  When  the 
Liberty  was  settled  by  Law,  he  Preach'd  at  Derby  and  several  other  Places  Occasion- 
ally ;  not  dareing  to  hide  his  Lord's  Talent  in  a  Napkin.  A  valuable  Man  and  a 
useful  Preacher."  Calamy's  Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  166,  Wirksworth  Classis 
MSS.  Mr.  Robert  Moore,  who  preached  one  of  the  funeral  sermons,  was  ejected  from 


BARROW.  27 

1701.  Sept.  20.  Eobert  Steevenson  of  Draicott  in  y«  county  of  Darby  died  suddenly 
in  Barrow  field  next  to  Swarkston  field  he  had  a  Son-in-law  with  him 
whom  he  had  sent  before  to  Swarkston  with  his  waggon  and  six  poor 
horses  or  mares  (going  towards  the  ferry)  loaden  with  cheese ;  he  was 
buried  in  Barrow  churchyard  Saturday  20th,  but  dyed  Thursday  18th  before, 
I  having  a  Paper  under  Mr  Charles  Adderley's  hand  of  Derby  Coroner  to 
bury  him.  Quod  vide.  He  sickened  in  Potluck  lane  as  he  came  from 
Uttoxeter  by  Twyford  and  so  towards  Swarkston. 

1705.  Apr.  6.  Quidam  Gulielmus  Smith  Peregrinus  veniens  e  Parochia  de  Utoxeter 
suspendit  seipsum  apud  Twyford :  sepultus  autem  erat  in  loco  vulgo  appel- 
late Hailstones. 

1711.  Memd.     That  his  grace  the  Duke   of   Newcastle,  whose  seat  was  at  Welbeck 
Abbey   in    Nottinghamshire,  was  flung  of  his  horse  on  Friday  July  6,  1711, 
as  he  was  hunting  the  fox,  and  dyed  on  Sunday  morning  following,  at  3  of 
the  clock  in  the  56  year  of  his  age,  and  was  carried  up  to  London  about  13 
of  August  immediately  following,  to   stand    among   the   Kings   and    Queens 
and  the  rest  of  the  Nobles  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

1712.  Elizabetha  Norman  de  Sinfin  Parochia  de  Barrow-sup-Trentum  Uxor  Roberti 
Norman  Vicarii  de  Barrow  prsedicta  mortua  est  die    Solis    per    duodecimam 
horam   apud  noctem    ejusdem    diei  vel  eo  circiter  deciino  sexto   Novembris, 
sepulta  autem  fuit  die  Mercurii  decimoque  nono  Novembris  in  cemeteris  de 
Twyford  per  Dominum  Thomas  Buxtouium  (tune  ministrum  de  Chellaston). 

To  end  her  days  on  the  Lord's  day 

She  thought  it  was  the  best 
And  now  I  hope  to  heaven  she's  gone 

To  everlasting  rest. 
Home  Home  she  always  said  she'd  go 

This  was  her  constant  ditty 
She  knew  full  well  that  here  below 

She'd  no  continuing  city. 
Her  husband  friends  and  house  she  chang'd 

(In  this  world  ne'er  to  see) 
For  God  and  Christ  in  Heaven  with  Saints 

For  evermore  to  Bee. 

or  otherwise  thus 

To  live  eternally. 
Joyn'd  we  was  in  Marriage 

the   llth  of  December        (viz  1666) 
Disjoyn'd  we  was  by  Death  again 

the  sixteenth  of  November        (viz  1712) 
And  all  the  time  betwixt  us  both 

A  child  we  had  but  one 
Mary  by  name  who's  gone  to  God 

And  I  am  left  alone. 

or  otherwise  thus 

And  she  to  her  is  gone. 

R.  NORM  AN. 

1714,  July  6.  Mr.  Rt  Norman  and  Mrs  Rebecca  Sales  married. 
July  12.  Mr.  Robt  Norman  buried. 

the  living  of  Brampton  in  1662.  He  also  suffered  imprisonment  for  his  views,  and  was 
"  once  indited  for  not  reading  the  Book,  when  it  was  not  yet  come  down.  He  was 
afterwards  one  of  the  Pastors  of  the  Congregation  in  Derby,  where  he  dy'd  in  June 
1704."  Mr.  Woodhouse  died  in  1700,  pastor  of  a  considerable  congregation  in  London. 
A  note  in  a  later  hand,  m  the  registers,  says  that  Mr.  Pike  was  born  at  Clebury,  in 
Shropshire,  and  died  at  Burton. 


28  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 


CJapeto  uf 


j)F  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  Twyford,  as  independent  of 
that  of  Barrow,  hardly  anything  can  be  gleaned.  It 
appears  to  have  been  from  the  earliest  date  a  parochial 
chapelry  of  Barrow,  with  rights  of  baptism  and  burial  attached  to 
it,  but  the  priest  who  served  there  was  merely  a  chaplain  or 
curate  appointed  by  the  vicar  of  Barrow,  to  whom  he  had  to 
render  all  oblations,  etc.  It  had  110  independent  endowment 
attached  to  it.  After  the  ^Reformation  it  came  to  be  regarded  in  a 
certain  light  as  possessing  beneficiary  rights  of  its  own,  and 
institutions  were  made  in  the  title  of  Barrow-cum-Twyford,  and 
occasionally  even  of  Twyford-cum-Barrow;  but  the  two  benefices 
have  always  been  held  in  conjunction. 

The  church  or  chapel,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Andrew,  consists 
of  a  nave  38  ft.  10  in.  by  20  ft.,  a  chancel  20  ft.  3  in.  by  15  ft., 
and  a  small  tower  and  spire  at  the  west  end.  Between  the  nave 
and  chancel  is  a  bold  Norman  arch,  of  the  reign  of  Henry  I., 
ornamented  with  the  chevron  moulding,  and  in  good  preservation. 
The  lower  stage  of  the  tower  has  three  widely-splayed  lancet 
windows,  and  is  a  good  sample  of  early  English  work  of  the 
beginning  of  the  13th  century,  though  the  west  light  is  spoilt  by 
the  insertion  of  a  modern  doorway. 

The  church  is  of  the  Decorated  period,  temp.  Edward  II.  It  has 
a  plain  pointed  priest's  doorway,  a  two-light  square-headed  window, 
and  a  good  three-light  pointed  window  on  the  south  side.  The 
three-light  east  window  has  quatrefoils  in  the  upper  tracery.  On 
the  north  side  is  a  two -light  square-headed  window  of  debased 
date. 

The  upper  stage  of  the  tower  has  four  square-headed  bell- 
chamber  windows,  which  are  clearly  of  the  same  date  as  the  south 
chancel  windows.  The  short  octagon  spire  is  also  of  this  period. 


TWYFORD.  29 

The  nave  is  of  brick,  faced  with  stone,  lighted  with  round- 
headed  windows,  and  ceiled  with  plaster.  It  resembles  the  style 
of  work  at  Trusley  church,  and  seems  to  be  of  the  reign  of  Anne 
or  George  I. 

There  used  to  be  a  plain  old  Norman  font  in  this  church,  but  it 
now  possesses  one  of  the  most  miserable  examples  of  a  modern 
stonemason's  art  that  it  has  ever  been  our  fate  to  see.  In  large 
letters  on  the  base  is  prominently  inscribed  : — "  C.  Bennett,  Work- 
sop,  Fecit  D.D.D." 

When  Bassano  visited  this  church  (1710)  he  noted  two  alabaster 
stones,  from  which  the  inscription  was  worn  off,  and  also,  near  to 
the  north  wall,  an  old  alabaster  slab  with  "  the  portraiture  of  a 
man  in  armour  cap-a-pie  and  coat  of  male,"  and  the  following 
remnant  of  an  inscription  : — "  ....  militis  .  .  .  armi/jeri  .  .  .  dei 
menxis  .  .  .  anno  dni  M°  Ve  xxxii  et  .  .  .  .  animalus  ppicietur  Deus 
Amen."  The  Rawlins  MSS.,  of  a  century  later,  also  speak  of  the 
effigy  of  a  man  in  armour  of  the  year  1533,  but  we  looked  in  vain 
for  any  remnant  of  this  or  other  alabaster  slabs. 

Bound  the  margin  of  a  large  slate  slab,  now  against  the  north 
wall  of  the  chancel,  is  the  following  inscription : — 

"  Hie  jacet  corpus  Georgii  filij  secundi  Ricardi  Harpur  de  Littleover  militia  qui 
obijt  decimo  sexto  die  Novembris  Anno  Domini  1658  ^tatis  suaa  64." 

On  a  smah1  brass  plate  in  the  centre  of  this  slab,  it  is  recorded 
that : — 

"Here  also  lieth  Anna  his  wife  the  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Vernon  of  Sudbury 
Knt.  who  departed  this  life  the  15th  of  January  1C88  aged  68." 

Against  the  same  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  mural  monument, 
having  in  the  upper  part  these  impaled  arms : — Arg.,  a  lion 
rampant  within  a  bordure  engrailed,  sab.  (Harpur),  and,  sab. ,  on  a 
chevron  between  three  talbots'  heads  erased,  arg.,  as  many  fleurs- 
de-lis  of  the  first.  Above  the  arms  is  the  Harpur  crest  of  a  boar. 
The  inscription  is  now  illegible.  It  commemorated  George  Harpur, 
son  of  the  last-named  Harpur,  who  died  in  1672,  and  his  wife 
Catharine,  daughter  of  Edward  Wardour,  who  died  in  1669. 

There  used  also  to  be  a  monument  at  Twyford  to  John,  son  of 
George  Harpur,  who  died  in  1671. 

The  adjacent  manors  of  Twyford  and  Stenson  were  held  by  the 
Curzons  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  I.,*  but  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  II.  they  were  conveyed  by  John  Curzon,  of  Croxall,  to 

*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  171,  etc. 


30  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

John  Crewcher  and  Alice  his  wife.*  Thence  they  passed  to  the 
Finderns.  Thomas  Findern  dying  seized  of  them  in  1558,  the 
estate  passed  to  his  sister  and  heiress,  Jane,  who  conveyed  it? 
inter  alia,  to  her  husband,  Eichard  Harpur,  whose  monument  we 
have  already  described  under  Swarkestoii  Church.  Their  second 
son  was  Sir  Richard  Harpur,  of  Littleover,t  whose  second  son, 
George,  inherited  the  Twyford  property,  and  here  resided.  For 
lack  of  heirs  it  afterwards  reverted  to  the  senior  branch  of  the 
family. 

A  brass  against  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  says  that  the 
Bristowe  vault  is  under  the  communion  rails.  There  is  a  memorial 
of  Samuel  Bristowe,  1761. 

There  are  three  bells  in  the  tower. 

I.  "  Paule,"    in    Lombardic    capitals,    and    the    founder's    mark 
attributed  to  Richard  Mellor. 

II.  "  Jhesus  be  our  spede,  1611,"  in  Lombardic  capitals,  and  the 
founder's  mark  of  Henry  Oldfield. 

III.  "  In  mi  beginning  God  be  mi  spede,"  in  Lombardic  capitals, 
and  the  same  founder's  mark  as  the  first  bell. 

In  June,  1821,  the  spire  was  struck  by  lightning  and  much 
damaged,  necessitating  the  rebuilding  of  a  considerable  portion. 
At  the  same  time  the  churches  of  Coleorton  and  Staunton  Harold 
were  greatly  injured.^ 


*  Lysons'  Derbyshire,  p.  .46. 

t  .See  our  subsequent  account  of  Littleover  Church. 

J  Bigsby's  History  of  Repton,  p.  298. 


|0  church  is  mentioned  at  Crich  iu  the  Domesday  Survey. 
Crick  was  at  that  time  one  of  the  nineteen  Derbyshire 
manors  held  by  Ealph  Fitzhubert,  whose  principal 
residence  was  on  this  manor.*  To  him  succeeded  his  son,  Ealph 
Fitzralph,  first  Baron  of  Crich,  who  in  the  time  of  Henry  I. 
gave  certain  lands  in  Hartshorn  to  the  Knights  Hospitallers. t 
His  son,  Hubert  Fitzralph,  was  a  great  benefactor  to  Darley 
Abbey,  and  in  the  year  1175  confirmed  his  church  of  Crich  to  that 
establishment.  But  it  seems  to  have  been  previously  given  to  the 
Abbey  by  Ealph  Fitzralph,  for  the  church  of  Crich  is  mentioned 
by  Eobert  de  Ferrers  as  part  of  his  gift  to  the  canons  at  the  time 
when  he  removed  them  from  Derby  and  founded  the  Abbey  of 
Darley,  which  was  early  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  for  Eobert  de 
Ferrers  died  in  1162.  There  is  some  contradiction  between  the 
different  charters  as  to  the  actual  donor  of  the  church,  of  Crich, 
but  it  is  most  probable  that  the  Ferrers  for  a  time  exercised  some 
nearly  nominal  control  over  Crich  manor  as  chief  lords,  and  that 
the  donation  required  their  consent. j  Considerable  lands  and 
woods  pertaining  to  the  manor  of  Crich  were  also  bestowed  upon 
the  abbey  by  Hubert  Fitzralph  and  his  father.  In  the  year  1175 
a  dispute  arose  between  Albinus,  first  abbot  of  Darley,  and  Hubert, 
respecting  the  manor  and  church  of  Crich,  and  lands  at  Pentricli, 
Eipley,  Okerthorpe,  and  Chilwell.  The  dispute  chiefly  turned  on 
the  claim  of  the  abbot  to  the  pannage  and  agistment  of  swine 
throughout  the  whole  of  the  woods  of  Crich.  The  matter  was 

*  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Hubert  de  Eya,  and  was  hung  in  the  civil  wars,  in  the 
year  1140,  by  a  partisan  of  the  Empress  Maud.  Dugdale's  Baronage,  vol.  i.,  p.  109; 
Matt,  of  Westminster  (ed.  1601),  p.  243. 

f  Dugdale's  Momisticon,  vol.  ii.,  p.  527. 

I  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  ii.,  p.  231,  and  vol.  iii.,  p.  60.      See  also  the  important 
chartularies  of  Darley  Abbey,  now  in  the  Brit.  Museum  (Cotton  and  Cole  MSS.), 
described  in  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  321. 
4 


34  DERBYSHIRE    CHl/RCHES. 

referred  to  the  determination  of  Roger,  Bishop  of  Worcester,  and 
Robert,  Prior  of  Kenilworth,  and  the  decision  was  chiefly  in  favour 
of  Hubert.1" 

Hubert  Fitzralph,  Baron  of  Crich  and  Lord  of  Scarcliffe  and 
Palterton,  died  about  the  year  1225.  By  his  first  wife,  Edelina, 
he  left  two  daughters,  his  co-heiresses,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Juliana, 
was  married  to  Anker  de  Frecheville, t  but  he  dying  before  his 
father-in-law,  Crich  passed  to  his  son,  Ralph  de  Frecheville.  One 
of  the  Darley  chartularies  contains  a  deed  of  this  Ralph,  confirming 
the  church  of  Crich  to  the  abbey.J  His  son,  Anker  de  Frecheville, 
who  married  the  heiress  of  Musard,  and  thus  became  baron  of 
Staveley  as  well  as  of  Crich,  died  in  1268.  §  His  son,  Ralph  de 
Frecheville,  in  the  year  1324,  alienated  the  manor  of  Crich  to 
Roger  Beler  and  his  heirs,  who  died  seized  of  it  in  the  following 
year,  leaving  an  heir,  Roger,  aged  seven  years.  |  Sir  Roger  Beler 
died  in  1380,  and  his  fourth  wife,  who  survived  him  eleven  years, 
held  Crich  as  part  of  her  dowry  ;  thence  it  passed  to  Sir  Robert 
de  Swillington,  who  had  married  Margaret,  daughter  and  co-heiress 
of  Sir  Roger  Beler  by  his  second  wife.  It  afterwards  passed  by 
inheritance  to  Ralph,  Lord  Cromwell,  who  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
VI.  sold  the  reversion  to  John  Talbot,  second  Earl  of  Shrewsbury. 
On  the  death  of  Gilbert,  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  in  1616,  the  manor 
was  divided  between  his  three  daughters  and  co-heiresses,  the 
Countesses  of  Pembroke,  Kent,  and  Arundel.**  The  manor  has 
since  become  much  divided,  and  has  been  the  subject  of  prolonged 
and  frequent  litigation. 

During  the  episcopate  of  Alexander  Stavenby  (1224-1240),  a 
vicarage  was  formally  ordained  at  Crich,  and  endowed  with  the 
tithes  of  lambs  and  wool,  and  the  usual  oblations.  In  the  year 
1278  a  composition  was  entered  into  between  the  abbot  of  Darley 
and  William  de  Draycote,  vicar  of  Crich,  by  which  the  latter  under- 
took to  rest  content  with  the  former  ordination  of  the  vicarage, 
and  certain  additions  made  at  the  time  of  his  presentation  to  the 


*  Cole  MSS.,  vol.  xxi.,  f.  171.  On  the  same  page  occurs  a  grant  of  a  portion  of  the 
manor  of  Crich  to  Darley  Abbey  by  Geoffrey  de  Constantine.  He  married  the  sister 
of  Hubert  Fitzralph.  This  grant  is  confirmed  by  Walter,  Bishop  of  Coventry  and 
Lichfield,  1149-61. 

f  Nichols'  Collectanea,  vol.  iv.,  p.  1;  but  Nichols  is  wrong  in  the  date  of  the  death 
of  Hubert. 

{  Cole  MSS.,  vol.  xxi.,  f.  177.     See  also  Harl.  MSS.  5809,  f.  35  b. 

§  Inq.  post  Mort..  53  Hen.  III.,  No.  20.  See  the  account  of  Staveley,  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  i.,  pp.  345-364. 

II  Eot.  Fin.,  S.  Mich.,  18  Edw.  II. ;  Inq.  post  Mort.,  19  Edw.  II.,  No.  98. 

**  See  Blore's  South  Winfield  and  the  accompanying  pedigrees  ;  also  Glover's 
DerbysJiire. 


CRICH.  35 

vicarage,  viz. — a  provision  in  case  of  illness — the  whole  tithes  of 
the  lands  and  tenements  that  used  to  pertain  to  Peter  de  Wake- 
bridge,  which  Bricius,  formerly  vicar  of  Crich,  obtained  by  consent 
of  the  abbey  of  Darley — and  forty  shillings  of  rent  paid  annually 
by  the  abbey.* 

The  taxation  roll  of  Pope  Nicholas  (1291)  gives  the  annual  value 
of  this  church  at  £6  13s.  4d.,  and  a  rental  of  the  temporalities  of 
Darley  Abbey,  within  the  archdeaconry  of  Derby,  taken  about  the 
same  time,  states  that  the  monks  held  sixty  acres  of  land  at 
Crich,  valued  at  twenty  shillings  per  annum,  and  also  assessed 
rents  to  the  annual  value  of  twelve  shillings. t 

The  manor  of  Wakebridge  in  this  parish  belonged  at  an  early 
period  to*,  a  family  who  took  their  name  from  the  place.  Peter, 
son  of  Ealph  de  Wakebridge,  married,  in  the  reign  of  John, 
Emma,  sister  of  Hubert  Fitzralph,  lord  of  Crich. j  Their  great- 
grandson,  Peter  de  Wakebridge,  was  knight  of  the  shire  in  several 
parliaments  of  Edward  III.,  and  died  in  1349.  He  had  a  large 
family,  and  left  Sir  William  de  Wakebridge  his  heir.  Neither  Sir 
William  nor  his  brothers  had  any  issue,  and  his  sister,  Cecilia,  the 
wife  of  Sir  John  de  la  Pole,  became  his  heir.  Peter  de  la  Pole,' 
son  of  Sir  John  and  Cecilia,  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Poles  of 
Kadbourn,  but  his  younger  brother,  Ealph  de  la  Pole,  became  lord 
of  Wakebridge.  His  posterity  continued  there  till  the  death  of 
John  Pole  in  1724,  when  it  passed,  in  default  of  heirs  male,  to  his 
great  nephew,  Garalt  Morphy,  and  Wakebridge  was  soon  afterwards 
sold  to  Mr.  Nightingale,  of  Lea. 

Sir  William  de  Wakebridge,  of  Wakebridge,  was  knight  both  of 
this  shire  and  Nottingham  in  several  parliaments  between  26  and 
86  Edward  III.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  valiant  warrior  in  the 
French  wars,  but  is  better  known  as  the  munificent  founder  of  two 
chantries  in  his  parish  church.  Much  information  respecting  these 
chantries,  as  well  as  other  particulars  relative  to  the  parish  church} 
can  be  gleaned  from  an  interesting  chartulary  still  extant,  which 
affords  a  far  fuller  insight  into  the  property  and  working  of  these 
chantries  than  is  the  case  with  any  other  parochial  chantry  with 
whose  history  we  are  conversant.  It  is  curious  that  this  MS.  has 

*  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus,  C.  ix..  f.  47  b. 

t  Ibid.,  f.  41.  The  total  annual  value  of  the  temporalities  of  the  abbey,  within  the 
archdeaconry,  is  given  as  £72  19s.  3d. 

I  A  pedigree  of  Wakebridge  in  Glover's  Derbyshire  makes  Emma  daughter  of 
Hubert,  but  this  could  not  be,  otherwise  she  would  have  been  a  co-heiress,  and 
conveyed  part  of  the  manor  of  Crich  to  Wakebridge. 


36  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

hitherto  altogether  escaped  the  notice  of  our  county  historians.* 
The  volume  commences  with  the  writs  and  inquisitions  of  Edward 
III.,  done  into  English  : — 

"  Edwarde  the  thirde  Kinge  of  Englande  directed  his  writte  unto  th  eschetor  of 
Darbyeshere  to  make  inquisition  to  knowe  whether  he  were  any  thiuge  damnified 
yf  he  dyd  graunte  to  Wylliam  Wakebrugge  lycence  to  geave  unto  a  chapelayue 
to  singe  for  the  sowle  of  his  predecessors  at  Chriche  fowre  messuages,  thre 
cotages,  one  tofte,  seven  plowe  lande,  and  sixtene  shyUiuges  of  rent  -wth 
th  appurtenance  in  Chriche,  Whetecrofte,  Holeways,  Alvaleye,  and  the  Lees  by 
Cromforde,  and  fortye  shyllinges  issueinge  out  of  his  landes  at  Hassoppe,  Harston, 
Wakebrugge,  Tannesleye  and  Tyversall  to  have  and  to  holde  for  ever,  and  to 

make  inquisition  wether  he  has  sufficient  landes  besides  this  to  be  swore 

Sessions  and  Assises. 

"  Ihon  Walleis  th  eschetor  dyd  retorne  his  inquisition  taken  bye  the  veredicte 
of  twelve  men  wyche  dyd  present  that  hit  was  not  prejudiciall  unto  the  Kinge 
nor  unto  anye  other  that  the  sayde  Wakebrugge  sholde  geave  unto  the  chapel- 
aynes  fowre  messuages,  thre  cotages,  one  tofte,  and  seven  plowe  lande,  and 
syxtene  shillinges  of  rent  wth  th  appurtenances  in  Chriche,  Whetcrofte,  Holeways, 
Alvaleye  and  the  Lee  by  Cromforde,  wythe  lycence  for  to  geave  the  same 
chapelayene  at  Haslop,  Harston,  Wakebrugge,  Tausleye  and  Tyversaill  and  theye 
save  that  the  sayde  fowre  messuages,  thre  cotages,  seven  plowe  land,  and  sixtene 
shyllinges  rent  are  holden  of  Rauffe  Lee,  that  is  to  saye  everye  messuage  by  the 
service  of  toe  shillinges,  everye  cotage  and  tofte  by  the  service  of  six  pence,  and 
everye  plow  land  by  the  service  of  ijs  six  pence  by  the  yere,  the  w°he  Rauffe 
dothe  holde  the  same  of  Roger  Beler  by  the  service  of  the  fowerthe  part  of  a 
knight  fee  and  farther  theye  present  that  he  hath  sufficyent  of  freholde  to  be 
sworen  in  sessions  and  assises  videlicet  x11  of  lande  by  the  yere  in  Criche,  &c. 

"Whereupon  the  Kinge  confirmed  his  graunt  savinge  unto  the  chiffe  lordes 
theyre  right  &c. 

"  An  other  writte  unto  the  schetor. 

"  The  same  Kinge  directed  a  wryt  unto  theschetor  to  enquire  by  the  othe  of 
twelve  good  and  laufull  men  of  the  same  counteye  of  Darbye  what  damage  hit 
were  to  him  or  unto  other  yf  he  dyd  graunt  to  Wylliam  de  Wake  that  he  maye 
geave  fowre  messuages  thre  cotages  fyve  toftes  thre  plowe  lande,  fowre  and  xxu 
shyllinges  of  rent  wth  th  appurtenances  in  Chriche,  Whetcrofte,  Plastowe,  Furche- 
leye,  Alveleye,  Holewayes,  Tannesleye,  Dethecke,  and  the  Lee  by  Dethecke  to  a 
certayne  chappelayne  to  praye  for  the  sowles  of  dyvers  his  predecessors,  &c. 

"  Bye  vertwe  of  wch  writte  th  eschetor  made  his  inquisition  in  the  wch  he  dothe 
retorne  that  hit  is  no  losse  or  prejudice  unto  the  Kinge  or  to  anye  other  yf  he 
do  geave  the  same  land  and  farther  makethe  in  his  retorne  that  toe  messuages, 
thre  cotages,  toe  plowe  land,  and  twelve  shillinges  of  rent  are  holden  of  Roger 
Beler  payenge  one  payre  of  gloves  for  all  services,  the  wcb  Roger  doth  holde  hit 
of  the  Kinge  by  homage  and  fealtee.  Lyckewise  they  do  saye  that  to  messuages, 
fyve  toftes,  and  one  plow  land,  and  twelve  shyllinges  of  rent  are  holden  of  Roger 
of  Wynfeld,  the  wyche  Roger  dothe  hold  them  of  Roger  Beler  by  homage  and 
fealtee  and  the  fowertenthe  parte  of  a  Knightes  fee.  Wche  Roger  dothe  holde  hit 
of  the  King  in  capite  as  parcell  of  the  Manere  of  Chryche.  Lykewise  they  saye 
that  the  sayd  Wylliam  hath  land  in  Chriche  to  the  valewe  of  x*1  over  all 
chardges,  &c. 

*  Harl.  MSS.  3669.  It  is  a  thin  volume  of  101  folios— ff.  2*-4*  copies  of  writ  of 
Edw.  III.,  done  into  English  in  a  later  hand — ff  1-6,  calendar  of  saints'  days,  etc. — 
ff.  7-92,  the  chartulary  proper — ff.  93-98,  a  second  calendar,  with  obituary  and  other 
notices — ff.  99-101,  rentals.  A  tolerable  full  abstract  of  its  contents  will  he  found  at 
the  beginning  of  vol.  6669  of  the  Add.  MSS. 


CHICH.  37 

"  Whereupon  the  Kinge  confirmed  his  grauiit  saviuge  unto  the  chiffe  lordes  his 
right,  &c. 

"  Hit  is  to  be  knowen  that  all  the  tenements  in  the  afforesayde  dedes,  contayned 
or  retorned  by  the  inquisition  are  not  holden  of  the  fforesayde  lordes  ueyther  by 
BO  muche  rent  as  by  the  inquisition  is  supposed  and  this  was  done  by  the 
counsell  or  the  founder  that  the  tenements  shold  seeine  to  be  of  lesse  value  then 
they  were  and  therefore  the  Kinges  fine  was  lesse,  but  these  w011  here  after  euswe 
are  the  rentes  of  the  Chauntrye  graunted  bye  the  founder. 

"  Imprimis  one  halpeuye  was  reserved  to  the  Heyeres  of  Hugh  Gurneye  for  the 
mansion  in  Chriche  as  hit  dothe  appeare  by  the  dede.  Item  one  halfepenye  was 
reserved  to  the  heyres  of  Heugh  de  Loudeforth  for  the  same  as  hit  doth  appere 
bye  the  deede,  wch  rent  is  not  nowe  to  be  payed  for  that,  neyther  of  the 
grauntours  hathe  anye  Heyres.  Lykewyse  fyve  shyllinges  are  to  be  payed  to  the 
prior  of  Felley  for  the  tenement  wch  was  Thomas  Eyres  of  Chriche,  and  thre 
shyllinges  and  fowre  pence  are  dewe  to  the  same  prior  for  the  tenement  wch  the 
sayde  Thomas  dyd  hold  in  furtesleye  and  six  pence  are  dewe  to  the  chyrch  of 
Chriche  for  the  tenements  in  Chriche  bye  the  grauut  of  Adam  Eyre.  Lykewise 
one  penye  is  dewe  to  the  Heyres  of  Wylliam  Keuerdsaye  lord  of  the  Lee  for  one 
tenement  wche  is  in  the  handes  of  Simon  Whetcrofte.  Lykewyse  one  halfepenye 
is  dew  to  the  light  in  the  Churche  of  Chriche  for  all  other  tenements  in  Whet- 
crofte wch  were  Alexander  Lees.  Lykewyse  a  payre  of  gylden  spores  or  six  pence 
in  moneye  are  dew  to  the  lord  of  Chriche  for  to  plow  lande  at  Stricthorne,  wyche 
were  Henrye  Codinton.  Lykewyse  one  aple  is  dewe  to  Richard  Clarcke  for  one 
mesuage  and  toe  acres  of  lande  the  wch  Ihon  of  Chestershire  dyd  purchase  of 
Alexander  de  Lee.  Lykewise  one  halfepeuye  is  dewe  to  Wm  of  Kenardsaye  for 
three  acres  of  laud  the  w°he  the  sayde  Ihon  of  Chestershire  dyd  purchase  of 
Thomas  de  Ferarius.  And  one  halfepenye  is  to  be  payed  to  the  light  of  Saiiict 
lohn  of  Dethecke  for  one  plot  of  land  in  the  Lee  w°h  is  called  Hannefelde. 
Lykewise  one  pounde  of  cumine  is  dew  to  the  lord  of  Chriche  and  the  grindiuge 
of  a  eleven  busshelles  of  come  is  dew  to  the  chapellaynes  in  the  Lee  for  that 
halfe  part  of  the  milne  wch  were  Thomas  Ferrars.  Lykewyse  to  shylliuges  are 
dewe  to  the  heyres  of  Alexander  Lee  except  a  releas  may  be  had,  and  that  is  to 
be  sought  of  lohn  of  Dethecke  and  the  grinding  of  an  eleven  bushell  is  dew  to 
the  chappelaynes  of  the  Lee  for  that  halfe  of  the  milues  wch  were  Alexander 
Lees,  and  one  penye  halfepeuye  is  dew  to  the  lord  of  Tutburye,  for  the  enlarginge 
of  the  damme  of  the  lower  Mylne  of  the  Lee.  Lykewyse  six  shillinges  are  to  be 
payed  to  the  prior  of  Felleye  for  one  plowe  land  in  Clattercotes.  Lykewyse  one 
halfepeuye  is  dew  to  Richard  Clarke  for  all  the  tenementes  the  wych  Peter  of 
Wakebrugge  the  father  of  the  founder  dyd  purchase  of  Godfraye  Holewayes 
chapelayne  in  Alveleye,  and  the  w°h  the  same  Godfraye  dyd  purchase  of  Alexander 
Lee." 

The  first  of  these  chantries  was  founded  in  1350,  and  dedicated 
conjointly  to  SS.  Nicholas,  Katharine,  Margaret,  and  Mary  Magdalen, 
though  it  was  more  usually  known  by  the  names  of  the  first  two 
of  these  saints.  The  founder  paid  a  fine  of  ten  marks  to  the  king 
for  licence  to  alienate  the  lands  before  specified.*  It  was  ordered 
that  mass  should  be  daily  celebrated  for  the  souls  of  the  founder 
and  his  two  wives  Joan  and  Elizabeth,  his  grandfather  Nicholas 
de  Wakebridge,  and  his  wife  Juliana,  their  son  Nicholas,  and  their 
daughters  Sarah,  Joan,  and  Amicia  (uncle  and  aunts  of  the  founder), 

*  Rot.  Orig.  24  Edw.  III.  rot.  41. 


38  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

his  father  and' mother,  Peter  and  Joan  de  Wakebridge,  their  children, 
Eobert,  Nicholas,  Peter,  John  (chaplain),  and  Matilda  (brothers 
and  sisters  of  the  founder),  William  Cosyne,  his  wife  Eleanor,  and 
their  children,  John,  Cecilia,  and  Alice,  John  de  la  Pole,  and 
Cecilia  his  wife  (sister  of  the  founder),  Henry  de  Codyngton, 
Margaret  his  wife,  and  their  parents,  Roger  de  Chesterfield,  clerk, 
Henry  Nicholas,  Geoffrey  de  Chaddesden,  Nicholas  de  Tyssyngton, 
and  William  de  Balidon  (vicar  of  Crich),  Eoger  Beler,  Margaret 
his  wife,  and  Alice  Beler  (daughter  of  Thomas  Beler,  and  niece  of 
Roger),  Cecilia  Wyn,  and  Ralph  Frescheville  and  his  heirs.  The 
chaplain  was  to  assist  the  vicar  of  Crich  on  double  festivals,  on 
Sundays,  and  on  the  feasts  of  SS.  Katharine  and  Margaret,  si  cum 
nota  ubi  legitnr  'jubuiit  que  singuli  quod  residebu/it.'  Further 
instructions  provided  that  the  chaplain  was  to  hold  no  other  cure  ; 
that  he  was  to  provide  a  wax  taper  for  use  in  the  chancel ;  that 
on  the  feast  of  S.  Katharine  full  service  of  the  dead  was  to  be 
said,  and  on  the  morrow  5d.  was  to  be  offered;  also  on  the  same 
day  the  chaplain  was  to  distribute  10s.  or  its  value  to  the  poor  of 
Crich  ;  that  the  right  of  presentation  to  this  chantry  was  to  be 
vested  in  the  founder  for  his  life,  and  -then,  in  default  of  heirs  male, 
in  his  sister  Cecilia ;  that  after  a  month's  vacancy,  the  presentation 
should  rest  with  the  abbot  of  Darley,  and  after  a  further  lapse  of 
fifteen  days,  in  the  bishop  of  the  diocese ;  that  within  fifteen  days 
of  his  presentation,  the  chaplain,  in  the  presence  of  the  lord  of 
the  manor  of  Wakebridge,  of  the  vicar  of  Crich,  and  of  two  other 
honest  parishioners,  should  make  an  inventory  of  the  goods  of  the 
chantry,  which  are  to  be  left  in  as  good  or  better  condition  ;  that  40s. 
in  money  was  to  be  handed  to  each  successive  chaplain  on  his 
entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  chantry  ;  that  on  the  anniversary 
of  the  death  of  the  founder,  two  wax  tapers  should  burn  at  his 
sepulchre  in  the  chapel  of  SS.  Nicholas  and  Katharine,  tain  in 
viijilia  ad  placebo  et  diriye  quam  in  crastino  ad  missam  ;  and  that  the 
chaplain  should  daily  say  the  full  service  of  the  dead  and  the 
commendation  of  souls,  double  festivals  being  excepted. 

It  was  not  until  1357  that  the  episcopal  license  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  this  chantry  was  obtained,  when  Richard  Davy,  described 
as  a  chaplain  of  Stony  Stanton,  was  instituted  as  the  first  chantry 
priest.  The  founder's  ordinance  is  recited  at  length  in  the  Act  Book 
of  Roger  de  Norbury,  and  some  additional  particulars  can  be  gleaned 
therefrom  which  are  not  given  in  the  chartulary.*  We  find  that 

*  Lichfield  Episcopal  Eegisters,  vol.  iii.,  ff.  48a  to  51b. 


CRICII.  t 

this  chantry  was  situated  in  the  north  aisle  of  the  church,  which 
was  entirely  rebuilt  by  Sir  William  de  Wakebridge,  and  that  the 
altar  in  that  aisle  had  previously  been  simply  dedicated  in  honour 
of  S.  Nicholas.  The  order  for  the  observance  of  S.  Katharine's  day  is 
given  in  greater  detail;  Henry  de  Codyugtou,  and  his  wife,  together 
with  the  brothers,  sisters,  and  friends  of  the  founder,  were  enjoined 
to  attend  mass  on  that  day,  and  on  the  vigil  of  the  feast  to  offer 
two  wax  tapers  at  his  tomb  in  the  chantry,  and  five  pence  in 
honour  of  the  five  wounds  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  five  joys  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin.  With  respect  to  the  distribution  of  10s.  to  the 
poor  on  S.  Katharine's  day,  there  is  the  following  curious  entry,  on  a 
later  page  of  the  chartulary  : — 

"  Neghbo™  I  let  you  understand  y*  as  yia  day  as  you  know  of  old  custom  ye 
chantre  prest  of  Sanct  Nycholas  and  Sanct  Kathrine  y8  bond  to  dystribute  x«  in 

penys    or    penys-wurthe   so   y'  any    persons coming  have   jd  in   sylver  of 

sylver  wherfor  I  desyre  (you)  when  masse  y*  done  to  tary  and  receive  yor  dole 
and  to  pray  for  y*  founder  "Wyliam  Wake  (bridge).  I  desyre  your  young  folkes  and 
al  other  to  tary  w'in  y*  churche  and  you  shal  all  be  fynde  gyff  you  do  not.  I 
desyre  you  to  hold  me  excusyd  for  (?  or)  forsothe  you  shall  go  w*out  any  dole." 

In  the  year  1368,  William  de  Wakebridge  also  obtained  the 
episcopal  licence  of  Bishop  Robert  Stretton,  to  found  a  chantry  at 
the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  within  the  parish  church  of  Crich, 
in  honore  Domini  nostri  Jhesu  Christi  et  beatissime  Virginia  Marie 
matris  sue  et  omnium  Sanctorum. 

The  Mary  altar  is  described  as  having  been  formerly  dedicated 
/to  8.  Stephen.  The  composition  deed  of  this  chantry,  after 
reciting  the  permission  of  the  Abbot  of  Darley,  of  William  de 
Weston,  vicar  of  Crich,  of  the  parishioners,  and  of  all  others 
interested  therein,  appoints  Richard  Whiteman  as  perpetual  chap- 
lain. 

The  endowment  was  to  consist  of  £Q  of  rents  to  be  paid 
annually  by  the  Prior  of  Thurgarton,  together  with  other  lands  and 
tenements  specified  in  a  deed  held  by  Richard  Whiteman.  It  was 
ordained  that  the  chaplain  should  be  a  secular  priest — that  he  was 
in  his  daily  mass  to  make  mention  of  the  founder  and  Elizabeth, 
his  wife  ;  of  Roger  de  Chesterfield,  clerk ;  and  of  John  de  la  Pole 
and  Cecilia,  his  wife,  whilst  they  lived,  and  afterwards  to  pray  for 
their  souls,  and  also  for  the  souls  of  Nicholas  de  Wakebridge  and 
Juliana,  his  wife;  of  Peter  de  Wakebridge  and  Joan,  his  wife;  of 
Robert,  Nicholas,  and  Peter,  their  sons ;  of  Joan,  wife  of  William 
de  Wakebridge  ;  and  of  Joan  and  Margaret,  daughters  of  Peter — 
that  the  vicar  of  Crich,  or  the  parochial  chaplain,  was  to  assist 


40  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

the  chaplain,    both  wearing  surplices,  at  matins,  mass,  and  vespers, 
en  double  festivals,  on  Sundays,  and  on  the  feasts  of  SS.  Nicholas, 
Katharine,  Margaret,  and    Mary    Magdalen— that    he    should   daily, 
both  on  festivals  and  ordinary  days,  say  his   service  and  the   office 
of    the    dead,  in    conjunction    with   the    chaplain    of   S.  Katharine, 
either    in    the    church    or    churchyard— that   he    should    daily,    the 
greater  and  double  feasts  being  excepted,  say  the  full  service  of  the 
dead    and    the    commendation   of  souls — that   on   Wednesdays    and 
Fridays    he   should    say  the   seven   penitential   psalms   with   litany, 
except   in  the   week  of  Christmas,  Easter,  and   Pentecost — that   he 
should  continuously  reside  at  the  chantry-house,  in  the  same  way  as 
if  he  were   a  vicar,  wearing  the  canonical  dress  and  tonsure — that 
whenever   he   said  or    sung   mass    (sine   nota   vel  cum   not  a),  in    the 
lutroit,  before  the  commencement  of  mass,  a  Pater  Noster  and  Ave 
Maria   should    be    recited  by  those   present—  that   he    should    daily, 
after  matins  and  the    "  hours,"   say  the  psalm   De  profundis,  with 
the  usual  versicles,  in  the  hearing  of  the   bystanders — that    ou  the 
conclusion  of  the  versicles,  he  should  say  "  Anima   Willelmi  et  ainme 
omnium  fidelium  defimctorum  per  Dei  miserecordiani  in  pace  requiescant" 
and   the  same  words  after  mass  and  compline,   and  after  his   daily 
grace  at  table— that  mass  should  be  said  at   a  convenient  hour,  so 
that  the  parishioners  and  others  should  be   able  to  hear  it — that  a 
bell  should  be  rung  to  give  warning  of  the  service—  that  the  chap- 
lain   should   not  hold    any  other    benefice  or    undertake  any    other 
permanent  duty — that  on  the  death  or  resignation  of  the  chaplain, 
the  chantry  should  be    served  by  the  chaplain  of  the  altar   of   SS. 
Nicholas    and    Katharine,    who    should    receive    the    income    and 
discharge    the   expenses   of    the    vacant    chantry,    and    return    full 
accounts  thereof  to  the  future  chaplain  immediately  on  his  appoint- 
ment— that  110  woman,  de  qua  suspicio  aliqua  possit  oriri,  should  live 
in    the   chantry   house — that    on   the  anniversary    of   the   founder's 
death  mass  should  be  said  for   his  soul,  and  for  the  souls  of  those 
mentioned    above — that    every   chaplain,    within    five    clays    of    his 
obtaining  possession  of  this  chantry,  shah1  draw  up,  in  the  presence 
of   the   chaplain  of    SS.  Nicholas    and    Katharine,    and    the     vicar, 
an  inventory  of   the    number,  condition,   and    value  of   the    books, 
chalices,  jewels,  vestments,  ornaments,  utensils,  and  all  other  goods 
pertaining  to  the  chantry,  which  he  shall  keep  in  as  good  or  better 
condition    as  he  found   them — that  there  should   be  three  copies  of 
such   inventory,  one   to  be   kept  by  the   chaplain  of    S.  Mary,  one 
for   the  chaplain  of    SS.  Nicholas   and  Katharine,  and   one  for    the 


CRICH.  41 

vicar — that  no  chaplain  should  use  for  his  own  purpose,  or  will 
away,  any  of  the  books,  etc.,  or  other  goods  pertaining  to  the 
chantry — that  the  chaplain,  immediately  on  his  institution,  shall 
swear  on  the  Gospels  to  look  diligently  after  the  best  intei-ests  of 
the  chantry — that  he  shall  be  instituted  and  inducted  personally, 
and  not  by  proxy — that  on  the  vigil  of  the  Annunciation  he  should, 
in  conjunction  with  the  chaplain  of  SS.  Nicholas  and  Katharine, 
sing  placebo  et  diriije  for  the  souls  of  Eoger  Beler,  senior,  and  Alice, 
his  wife  ;  for  Roger  Beler,  junior,  and  Margaret  and  Elizabeth,  his 
wives ;  for  Reginald  de  Grey,  of  Sliirland,  and  Matilda,  his  wife  ; 
and  for  the  souls  of  all  their  ancestors  and  heirs — that  on  the  next 
day,  mass  was  to  be  sung  at  the  high  altar  for  the  souls  of  the 
aforesaid — that,  in  conjunction  with  the  chaplain  of  SS.  Nicholas 
and  Katharine,  placebo  et  diriye  should  be  sung  on  the  Saturday 
before  the  Nativity  of  S.  John  Baptist,  and  on  the  next  day  mass 
(with  intention  for  the  Queen)  to  be  sung  for  the  souls  of  Roger 
de  Chesterfield  ;  of  Richard,  his  brother  ;*  of  Henry,  Nicholas,  and 
Geoffrey  de  Chaddesden  ;t  of  Richard  de  Tissyngton  ;  of  Robert  de 
Derby ;  and  John  Mykbrother,  of  Eyam ;  my  most  special  and 
confidential  friends — that  the  same  service  should  be  sung  at  the 
high  altar,  by  the  two  chaplains  on  the  vigil  and  feast  of  S. 
Michael,  for  the  souls  of  William  de  Weston,  vicar  of  Crich  ;  of 
William  de  Balliden,  formerly  vicar;,  of  Richard  Davy  and  Richard 
Whitman,  chaplains  ;  and  for  the  souls  of  all  the  parishioners  of 
Crich,  who  were  then  dead,  or  who  should  here  afterwards  die — 
that  all  the  aforesaid  services  and  prayers,  should  be  also  for  the 
souls  of  John  de  Annesley  and  Anna,  his  wife ;  of  Robert  de 
Annesley,  rector  of  Rotyngtone  ;  of  John  Belewe  and  Isabella,  his 
wife  ;  of  John  Belewe,  his  son,  and  Alice,  his  wife  ;  and  of  Cecilia 
Wyu  and  Robert  Attehall,  servants  of  W.  de  W.,  the  founder — that 
these  nameSj  with  those  mentioned  before,  should  be  inscribed  on  a 
tablet,  which  should  be  placed  on  the  super-altar,  there  for  ever  to 
face  the  celebrant — that  on  a  vacancy  in  the  chantry  through  death 
or  other  natural  causes,  William,  the  founder,  during  his  life  should 
present,  and  after  his  death  his  legitimate  heirs — in  default  of  heirs, 
the  advowson  should  pass  to  his  sister  Cecilia,  and  her  heirs  male, 
and  in  default,  to  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Dale — that  if  the 


*  Roger  and  Richard  de  Chesterfield,  chaplains,  were  the  joint  founders  of  the 
chautry  of  S.  Michael,  in  the  parish  church  of  Chesterfield.  See  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  i.,  pp.  161,  162, 168. 

t  With  respect  to  the  three  Chaddesdens,  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii. , 
p.  30 1,  etc. 


42  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

founder  and  his  heirs  should  neglect  to  appoint,  and  the  Abbot  of 
Dale  also  after  five  days'  notice,  then  the  patronage  should  go  for 
that  turn  to  the  Bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield — that  this  ordina- 
tion of  the  chantry,  lest  the  foundation  thereof  might  be  forgotten, 
should  be  read  distinctly  in  the  vulgar  tongue  to  the  parishioners 
of  Crich,  in  the  church  or  churchyard,  on  the  Sunday  next  before 
the  feast  of  the  Assumption,  before  the  commencement  of  high 
mass — and  that  one  copy  of  this  ordination  should  be  kept  by  the 
chaplain,  another  by  the  lord  of  the  manor  of  Wakebridge,  and  a 
third  by  the  Abbot  of  Dale. 

The  calendar  bound  up  with  this  chartulary  specifies  the  following 
obits  : — 

Jan.  ix  kal.     John  de  Wakebridge  (uncle  of  the  founder),  1344. 

March  iiij  kal.     William  de  Wakebridge  (the  founder),  1369. 

April  x  kal.     Juliana  de  Wakebridge  (grandmother  of  the  founder),  1318. 

May  xv  kal.     Nicholas  de  Wakebridge  (brother  of  the  founder),  1349. 

J\me  v  kal.     "  Elizabet  de  Aslaccon  sororis  uxoris  Willelmi  de  Wakebridge,"  1349. 

July  xvij  kal.     Robert  de  Wakebridge,  vicar  of  Crich  (brother  of  the  founder),  1349. 

x  kal.    William  de  Sybthorpe,  1349. 

August  nones.     Peter  de  Wakebridge,  and  Joan,  his  daughter  (father  and  sister  of 

the  founder),  1349. 
iij  ides.    Joan,    the     wife    of     "William    de    Wakebridge    (the    founder),    and 

Margaret,  his  sister,  1349. 

xviij  kal.     John  de  Wakebridge,  chaplain  (brother  of  the  founder),  1349. 

Sept.  vij  ides.    Nicholas,    son  of   Nicholas    de   Wakebridge  (uncle  of  the  founder), 

1300. 

xij  kal.     Peter,  son  of  Peter  de  Wakebridge  (brother  of  the  founder),  1347. 

Oct.  xvi  kal.    Matilda  de  Wakebridge  (sister  of  the  founder),  1343. 

xiij  kal.     Nicholas  de  Wakebridge  (grandfather  of  the  founder),  1315. 

Nov.  ij  nones.    Eoger  de  Chesterfield,  i367. 
v  ides.    Cecilia  Wyn,  1368. 

A  glance  at  this  obituary  is  sufficient  to  draw  the  attention  of 
the  reader  to  the  remarkable  number  of  deaths  in  the  year  13i9, 
and  those  who  have  read  the  introduction  to  this  volume  will 
recollect  that  it  was  the  time  of  that  fearful  visitation  of  the  plague, 
usually  termed  the  Black  Death.  Of  its  terrible  character  we  can 
form  some  idea,  when  we  consider  the  extent  of  its  ravages  in  a 
single  household — a  household  the  most  wealthy  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood, and  situated  in  as  healthy  and  uncrowded  a  spot  as  any 
that  could  be  found  on  all  the  fair  hill  sides  of  Derbyshire.  Within 
three  months  Sir  William  de  Wakebridge  lost  his  father,  his  wife, 
three  brothers,  two  sisters,  and  a  sister-in-law.  Sir  William,  on 
succeeding  to  the  Wakebridge  estate,  through  this  sad  list  of 
fatalities,  appears  to  have  abandoned  the  profession  of  arms,  and 
to  have  devoted  a  very  large  share  of  his  wealth  to  the  service  of 


CRICH.  43 

God  in  his  own  neighbourhood.  The  Great  Plague  had  the  effect 
of  thoroughly  unstringing  the  consciences  of  many  of  the  survivors, 
and  a  lamentable  outbreak  of  profligacy  was  the  result.  But  the 
dire  judgments  of  God  had  a  contrary  effect  on  many  others,  who 
were  led  by  His  grace  to  a  newness  of  life ;  and  hence  as  a 
practical  outcome  of  their  change  of  habit,  we  find  about  this 
period  a  marked  revival  in  the  works  of  His  Church,  such  as  the 
rebuilding  of  fabrics  and  the  ordination  of  chantries.  An  unworthy 
and  superstitious  fear  may  have  actuated  some  minds  in  this 
abandonment  of  private  wealth,  but  a  genuine  change  of  heart  was 
wrought  in  others,  and  it  seems  reasonable  to  class  Sir  William 
de  Wakebridge  in  the  latter  category.  There  is  a  great  difference 
between  the  foundation  charters  of  the  chantries  of  Sir  William 
and  many  others  of  this  date  that  we  have  perused,  viz.,  that 
these  are  not  of  the  selfish  class  (so  to  speak)  that  merely  pro- 
vided masses  for  the  souls  of  the  founder  and  his  relatives,  but 
the  whole  tone  of  the  charters  (of  which  we  have  only  been  able 
to  find  space  for  meagre  abstracts)  bespeaks  a  real  interest  in  the 
souls  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  an  earnest  desire  that  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  and  other  services  should  be  attended  by  the  people  at 
large.  Nor  was  the  generosity  of  Sir  William  in  church  work 
merely  aroused  into  momentary  action  by  the  shock  of  the  deadly 
visitor  to  Wakebridge  manor  house  in  1319;  for  we  find  that  he 
was  engaged  in  a  further  alienation  of  his  property  in  1368,  only 
the  year  before  his  death,  and  he  also  at  some  intermediate  date 
built  a  private  chapel  at  his  manor  house,  which  he  adorned  in  a 
most  costly  manner,  and  furnished  it  with  a  chaplain.  He  was 
also  the  joint  founder  of  a  Nottinghamshire  chantry  in  1363,  and 
gave  to  the  parish  church  of  Crich  some  most  costly  .vestments. 
Moreover,  if  a  man  is  to  be  judged  by  his  friends,  Sir  William 
must  have  been  a  pious  Catholic,  for  we  find  him  on  terms  of  the 
closest  and  most  confidential  friendship  with  such  old  Derbyshire 
worthies  as  the  Chesterfields  and  the  Chaddesdens. 

Nor  have  we  yet  finished  with  this  most  interesting  chartulary, 
which  seems  to  us  to  be  unique  in  the  side-lights  that  it  throws 
upon  our  ecclesiastical  and  local  history.  The  candid  student  of 
fourteenth  century  life  is  forced  to  admit — much  as  he  may  admire 
the  deep  piety  and  self-abasement  of  no  inconsiderable  portion  of 
the  nation,  and  much  as  he  may  appreciate  the  exuberant  skill  of 
the  artificers  in  wood  and  glass  and  stone,  who  were  content  to 
lay  the  glories  of  their  art  at  the  threshold  of  the  Church — that 


44  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

this  enviable  catholicity  of  tone  was  sadly  intermingled  with  much 
that  savoured  of  baseness  and  superstition.  Here,  on  the  same 
pages  of  the  Calendar  that  record  the  deaths  of  the  Wakebridge 
family,  and  of  the  munificent  founder  of  the  chantries,  with  a 
touching  brevity,  the  hand  of  some  chantry  priest  has  inserted 
numerous  entries  that  not  only  breathe  a  most  mundane  desire 
after  bodily  health,  but  are  persistent  in  their  warnings  of  the 
luck,  good  or  bad,  attaching  to  particular  days  and  seasons.  If 
he  had  contented  himself  with  entering  a  receipt  for  the  cure  of 
the  "  stone,  strangury,  and  colyke,"*  we  should  not  have  quarrelled 
with  him  except  as  to  his  bad  taste  in  the  selection  of  a  common- 
place book ;  but  it  is  really  too  bad  when  we  find  month  after 
month  of  the  Calendar  interspersed  with  general  directions  for 
dietary  and  blood-letting,  regulated  by  a  superstitious  regard  for 
certain  seasons.  Thus  we  are  informed — that  if  anyone  lets  blood 
on  April  llth  in  the  left  arm,  he  will  not  lose  his  eyesight  for 
that  year,  but  if  he  lets  blood  on  the  3rd  he  will  be  saved  for 
that  year  from  headache  and  extasim  Anylice  Swymes — that  four 
days  of  May  are  very  dangerous,  viz.,  the  7th,  15th,  16th,  and 
20th — that  if  blood  is  let  on  the  7th  of  the  Kalends  of  August, 
the  patient  will  die  on  the  third  day  after — that  no  one  who  is 
bled  on  September  17th  need  fear  having  paralysis,  dropsy,  or 
epilepsy  for  that  year — that  if  anyone  strike  either  man  or  beast 
on  March  26th,  July  25th,  or  December  8th,  he  will  assuredly  die 
on  the  third  day  after,  et  hoc  probatum  est,  etc.,  etc. 

Sir  William  de  Wakebridge  does  not  appear  to  have  been  able 
to  alienate  much  of  his  own  manor  of  Wakebridge  to  religious 
use ;  and  the  lands  wherewith  he  endowed  the  chantries  situated 
at  Crich,  Wheatcroft,  Holloway,  Tansley,  Fritchley,  Dethick,  Lea, 
Ashover,  etc.,  were  purchased  by  him  of  their  owners  for  that 
purpose.  We  therefore  find  that  a  considerable  portion  of  this 
chartulary  consists  of  the  licenses  of  Sir  Roger  Beler  and  his  son 
Roger,  of  Geoffrey  Dethick  and  his  son  John,  of  William  de 
Kynardsley,  of  Richard  de  Clerk,  and  of  Roger  de  Wynfeld,  to 
alienate  their  lands  for  this  object. 

There  are   also   various   rentals   of  the   chantry   of    SS.    Nicholas 

*  "  For  y*  stone,  strangury  and  colyke.  Take  malues,  violet,  mercury,  make  of  yche 
j  handfull,  percele,  maydoii  here,  tho  thistyll,  of  yche  half  a  handfulle,  of  lyquerice  j 
quartron,  seth  all  yis  in  iiij  quartes  of  ale  tyl  ye  half  be  coiisumet,  yen  streyii  it  thro 
a  clothe  and  gyf  hym  vj  spoiifulle  of  y*  licor  to  drynck  in  ye  morowe  cold  and  at 
nyght  lew  warme  w*  half  a  sponfull  of  ye  powdr  y*  folows — Take  careaway,  fenelsede, 
spyknard,  anneys,  cinamon,  galyugale,  of  yche  di  uiice,  grouuselsede  j  unce,  lycorys 
j  uiice  .  .  .  ye  wyeght  of  alle." 


CRICH.  45 

and  Katharine,  giving  the  value  of  some  of  the  lands,  and  names 
of  the  tenants,  during  the  respective  chaplaincies  of  Richard  Davy 
and  William  Woderowe,  and  a  list  of  debts  owing  to  the  chantry 
on  the  death  of  Henry  Coke.  It  appears  that  there  was  an  annual 
payment  of  the  chaplain  of  14s.  4d.  to  the  Prior  of  Felley,  in 
recognition  of  lands  held  of  that  priory  at  Fritchley  and  Clatter- 
cotes,  which  had  been  granted  to  those  monks  by  Ivo  de  Heriz. 
Much  of  the  endowment  of  the  small  priory  of  Felley,  in  Notting- 
hamshire, came  from  the  Derbyshire  parishes  of  Crich,  Ashover, 
Morton,  and  Tibshelf.*  The  neighbouring  church  of  Annesley 
was  given  to  Felley  priory,  at  an  early  date,  by  Ralph  de  Aunesley, 
and  in  the  Crich  Chartulary  is  a  long  document  recording  the 
consent  of  John,  Archbishop  of  York,  to  the  foundation  by  Sir 
William  de  Wakebridge  and  Robert  de  Annesley,  rector  of  Rotyntone, 
of  a  chantry  at  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  within  the  church 
of  Annesley.t  It  is  dated  January  7th,  1363. 

During  the  chaplaincy  of  Henry  Coke,  the  chantry  house  per- 
taining to  SS.  Nicholas  and  Katharine  was  repaired,  the  stone  for 
the  purpose  being  carried  there  from  Winfield  at  a  cost  of  3d.J 

In  the  year  of  the  founding  of  the  second  chantry  (1368),  an 
indenture  was  made  between  Sir  William  de  Wakebridge  and 
Richard  Davy,  the  chaplain  of  the  first  chantry,  by  which  Richard 
and  his  successors  became  possessed  of  the  -following  altar  furniture, 
vestments,  etc.  : — one  super-altar,  one  "  haire,"§  one  altar-cloth, 
and  two  autependia,  one  autependium  with  frontal  for  the  super- 
altar,  another  worn  antependium  with  frontal,  and  one  new  one, 
two  corporals  with  cases,  one  missal,  one  chalice,  one  vestment  for 
double  festivals,  one  for  Sundays,  and  one  old  and  worn  for  ordinary 
use,  one  antependium  of  "  Syndone,"  one  portifer,  two  old  towels  for 
ablutions,  one  painting  over  the  altar,  two  pax-breads,  two  cruets, 
one  chantry  register,  one  vestment  entirely  of  blue  Samite,  with 
two  tunicles  and  a  cope  of  the  same.  The  property  at  the  same 
time  handed  over  to  Richard  Whiteman,  of  the  second  chantry, 
included  : — one  super  altar,  one  "  haire,"  three  altar-cloths,  and  two 
frontals,  four  towels,  three  tapestry  antependia,  one  corporal,  one 
new  case  for  the  corporal,  one  good  missal,  one  chalice,  one  new 

*  Stevens'  Addition  to  tfie  Monasticon,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  131-3. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  3669,  ff.  83-5. 

}  As  these  details  are  of  some  interest,  we  have  reproduced  them  verbatim.  See 
Appendix  No.  IV. 

§  This  is  probably  for  "  ara,"  which  was  the  name  used  not  only  for  a  portable 
altar  stone,  but  also  for  the  super-altar,  or  ledge  for  the  crucifix,  candlesticks,  &c. 


46  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

vestment  for  doubles,  one  for  Sundays,  and  one  for  ordinary   use, 
one  pax-bread,  and  two  cruets. 

The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  annual  value 
of  the  chantry  of  SS.  Nicholas  and  Katharine,  accruing  from 
mansion,  messuages,  and  lands,  at  £12  19s.  10d.,  and  also  annual 
pensions  to  the  value  of  £1  7s.  3d.,  but  deductions  for  chief  rents  to 
divers  persons  brought  the  clear  income  down  to  £13  4s.  4d.  The 
chantry  of  Our  Lady  had  a  clear  income  of  £6  3s.  4d.  The 
following  is  the  account  given  in  the  Chantry  Boll,  temp.  Edward 
VI:- 

"Cruche.  The  Chauntrye  of  SS.  Nycholas  &  Kateryns  founded  by  Wm  "Wake- 
brygge  somtym  lord  there,  mayntanynge  of  God's  service  and  socoure  of  pore 
folks  A°  xxiiij0  Edward  III.  xijtt.  iiijs.  iiijd.,  clere  xiiZi.  iijs.,  besyds  xvjs.  vjd. 
rents  resoluts,  xls.  receyoyd  of  the  late  monastery  of  Thurgarton.  Jo.  Maryott 
Chauntry  prest,  the  residen  letten  by  him  to  Fraunceys  Pole  Esq.  &  German  Pole 
Esq.*  for  the  terme  of  xxj  yeres  payenge  to  him  yerely  xli.  xvjs.  jd.  by  indenture 
xviij  Oct.  A°  xxxvj0  Regis.  It  hath  a  mancyon  prised  att  iiijs.  iiijd.  by  yere. 
Stocke  lixs.  iiij. 

"  The  Chauntrye  of  our  Ladye  founded  by  the  same,  to  the  same  entente  &  that 
a  priste  everye  Sundaye  &  dubble  feste  shoulde  assiste  the  Vycar  there  at  masse, 
mattyns,  and  evensong,  &  to  pray  for  his  soul,  etc.  by  foundaceyon  A°  xlij°  Edw. 
III.,  vjZi.  iijs.  iiijcZ.  with  vj  payd  out  of  the  late  monastre  of  Thurgartou  &  iijs. 
iiij<£.  for  his  mancyon  house.  Bob.  Swinstoo  Chauntry  priste.  Stocke  Iviijs.' 

Towards  the  end  of  the   Crich  chartulary  is  this  entry  : — 

"  An  Inventory  of  ye  goodes  of  ye  Chauntree  of  Sact  Nycholas  and  Sact  Kateryn 
in  Criche  receved  by  me  Sr  John  Mariott,  xxj°  die  Julii  anno  dui  1524. 

"  In  primis  a  chalice  leadyd  in  the  bothum.  Item  oone  old  maser|  withe  the 
armes  off  the  founder.  Item  iiij  sylver  spones  of  ye  whiche  three  are  brokene. 
Item  ij  rookesj  of  cooles  and  a  litile  wodd  about  ye  house  in  styd  of  fourty 
shillynges  y*  I  ought  to  have  hadd  at  myne  entre  yf  there  had  rernaynyd  so 
moche.  Item  oone  masse  booke.  Item  oone  old  wrytyn  portuus.§  Item  iij  old 
vestymentes  and  oone  very  old  casula  (chasuble)  yl  is  tome.  Item  oone  old  brokene 
cruett.  Item  ij  old  auter  clothes.  Item  oone  hangyng  before  ye  autre.  Item 
three  corperaxes  w4  cases.  Item  oone  furnes.  Item  iij  leades  (?  leaden  basons) 
sett  in  a  forme.  Item  oone  old  wrytyne  procession,  all  which  ye  said  Sr  John 
hathe  delyveryd  to  John  Beamount  esquyer  dwellyng  at  gracedew  monastory 
beynge  y6  Kynges  visitor  vj  Edward  vjth."|| 

The  following  lists  of  the  chaplains  and  patrons  of  these 
chantries,  are  compiled  from  the  Lichfield  Eegisters  : — 

*  There  is  an  original  memorandum  (Add.  MSS.,  6,668,  f.  717),  from  John  Marriott, 
to  Francis  Pole,  of  the  Dale,  and  to  German  Pole,  of  Wakebridge,  dated  23rd  Jan.  33 
Henry  VIII.,  promising  that  if  he  release  the  goodwill  of  the  chautry  to  any  man, 
it  shall  be  to  them. 

t  A  maser,  or  mazer,  was  a  broad  standing  cup  or  drinking  bowl  of  maple  or  walnut 
wood. 

I  Bookes  of  cooles =reeks  of  coals.     Beek=rick  or  pile. 

§  I.e.,  a  portesse,  or  breviary. 

||  In  Add.  MSS.,  6,668,  f.  719,  there  is  an  original  copy  of  this  inventory  on  a  slip 
of  parchment  7  inches  by  4. 


CRICH.  47 

CHANTRY  OF  SS.  NICHOLAS  AND  KATHARINE. 

1357.  Richard  Davy  ;  patron,  William  de  Wakebridge.    According  to  the  Chartu- 

lary,  Davy  was  inducted  June  18th,  1356. 
1370.  William  le  Blount;  patron,  John  de  la  Pole.    On  the  death  of  R.  D. 

.  Henry  Coke. 
1429,  June  28th.    Adam  Webster,  vicar  of  Hartington,  exchanged  his  benefice  for 

this  chantry  with  H.  C. 
,  Nov.    4th.      This    exchange    reversed !     Henry    Coke    coming    back    to    the 

chantry,  and  A.  W.  returning  to  Hartington. 
.  James  Hyton. 

1441.  John  Duffeld;    patron;  Peter  de  la  Pole.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  H. 
1459.  William  Woderowe ;  patron,  Justice  Ralph  Pole.    On  the  death  of  J.  D. 

1490.  Edmund  Pole,  sub-deacon ;  patron,  Ralph  Pole.     On  the  death  of  W.  W. 
1535.  John  Marriott.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 

CHANTRY   OF    OUR    LADY. 

1368.  Richard  Whiteman ;  patron,  William  de  Wakebridge. 
1370.  John  de  Duffield:  patron    William  de  Wakebridge. 
1376.  John  Loscowe;  patron,  John  de  la  Pole. 

.  John  Ilkesdon. 

1390.  John  Heth  ;  patron,  Cecilia  de  la  Pole.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  I. 
1403.  Richard  Yvenot;  patron,  Cecilia,  relict  of  John  Pole. 
1436.  John  Assheley ;  patron,  Edward  de  la  Pole.    On  the  death  of  B.  T. 

.  Thomas   Cowper. 

1491.  John  Fox;  patron,  Ralph  Pole.     On  the  death  of  T.  C. 

1515.  Robert  Swynscowe ;  patron,  John  Pole.    On  the  death  of  J.  F. 

The  Crich  Chartulary  also  contains  records  of  several  matters 
that  affect  the  parish  rather  than  the  chantries,  and  some  of  them, 
being  of  earlier  date  than  their  foundation,  must  have  been  copied 
from  documents  previously  in  possession  of  the  vicar. 

During  the  metropolitan  visitation  of  that  strict  disciplinarian, 
Archbishop  Peckham,  in  1280,  he  was  called  upon  to  settle  a 
dispute  between  the  parishioners  of  Crich  and  the  abbot  of  Darley, 
as  rector.  The  archbishop  appears  to  have  visited  Crich  personally, 
and  then  he  appointed  Simon  de  Baliden*  and  E.  de  Suham, 
canons  of  Lichfield,  as  his  commissioners  in  the  dispute.  Their 
decision  was — that  the  abbot  should  find  some  one  whose  duty  it 
should  be  to  ring  the  parish  bells  of  the  church  of  Crich,  and  to 
bring  water  and  fire  there  as  often  as  required — that  he  should 
provide  ropes  for  the  bells — that  he  should  relieve  the  necessitous 
and  indigent  hi  the  parish — and  that  he  should  also  provide  at  his 
own  expense  for  the  serving  of  the  chantry  within  the  chapel  of 
S.  Thomas  the  Martyr,  situated  in  the  churchyard  at  Crich,  on 
three  days  of  the  week.  In  the  same  year  it  was  also  agreed,  on 

*  Simon  de  BaUden  was  Vicar-General  of  the  diocese  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield  in 
1274.  Howard's  Lichfield,  p.  184. 


48  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

appeal  to  the  archbishop,  that  the  abbot  should  in  perpetuity  hold 
himself  bound  to  provide  an  image  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  to 
stand  in  the  chancel,  and  all  other  things  necessary  for  the 
chancel,  except  the  chalice  and  missal,  which  the  parish  were  to 
find.  The  parishioners  claimed  that  the  monks  of  Darley  ought 
also  to  do  all  that  was  necessary  for  the  sustentation  and  repair 
of  the  nave,  seeing  how  much  property  they  held  in  the  parish.* 
But  the  decision  on  this  point  was  that  the  abbey  was  only  to  be 
responsible  for  that  portion  of  the  general  burdens  of  the  nave 
and  of  providing  the  Holy  Bread  +  that  corresponded  with  the 
extent  of  their  lands,  mansions,  and  other  possessions  within  the 
limits  of  the  parish. 

The  parishioners  of  Crich  set  apart  5  acres  3£  roods  of  arable 
land,  out  of  the  common  fields  of  Tansley,|  to  provide  for  a  lamp 
to  be  always  burning  before  the  image  of  the  Virgin  in  the 
chancel.  There  were  also  several  other  small  individual  endow- 
ments for  the  same  purpose. 

An  indenture  made  in  1368  between  Roger  Beler,  William  de 
Wakebridge,  Henry  de  Codyntone,  Roger  Kybbulle,  jun.,  Henry  de 
Merlache,  Adam  del  Hulle,  Thomas  de  Biggynges,  Henry  Clerke, 
Robert  Burgulone,  Henry  de  Plastowe,  Simon  de  Whetcrofte,  Adam 
Couper,  Peter  Couper,  John  Hayward  and  Richard  Bateman  de 
Wyssintone,  John,  son  of  Robert  de  Tannesley,  Adam  Haselbache, 
and  many  other  parishioners  of  Crich,  of  the  one  part,  and 
William  de  Weston,  vicar  of  Crich,  of  the  other  part,  provides 
that  all  the  ornaments  and  vestments  that  have  been  furnished 
individually  or  collectively  for  the  use  of  the  clergy,  chaplains,  and 
others  ministering  in  the  church  of  Crich,  between  the  years  1349 
and  1868,  shall  be  placed  in  the  custody  of  William  de  Weston, 
the  vicar,  and  his  successors,  to  be  held  by  them  for  the  use  of 
the  parish,  and  not  to  be  privately  appropriated  or  sold  by  them 
or  by  the  abbots  of  Darley.  The  articles  are  thus  specified  : — One 
vestment  de  viridi  Camacw  with  two  tunicles  and  one  cope  of  the 

*  In  addition  to  the  lands  and  tithes  already  mentioned,  Darley  Abbey  also  held 
the  whole  of  the  manor  of  Wistauton  (now  called  Wessington),  in  this  parish,  which 
was  granted  to  them  by  Ealph  Fitz  Odo  and  Geoffrey  de  Constantino.  The  monks 
had  a  chapel  attached  to  their  grange  of  Wistanton,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to 
glean  anything  respecting  its  site  or  history. 

f  The  Holy,  or  Blessed  Bread  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  Host  of  the  Mass. 
In  the  early  Church,  at  the  end  of  Mass,  the  loaves  offered  by  the  faithful,  which  had 
not  been  consecrated,  were  blessed  by  the  celebrant,  and  distributed  as  a  sign  of 
brotherly  communion.  Hence  arose  the  custom,  still  continued  in  both  the  Roman 
and  Greek  branches  of  the  Church  Catholic,  of  distributing  blessed  bread  to  the 
general  body  of  the  congregation  on  the  great  festivals. 

I  As  the  names  of  these  fields  at  Tausley,  and  their  tenants,  are  of  some  interest, 
we  have  given  them  in  full  in  Appendix  No.  V. 


CRICH.  49 

same,  value  £10* — one  good  cope,  value  10  marks,  which  Eoger 
de  Chesterfield,  clerk,  gave  to  William  de  Wakebridge  and  the 
other  parishioners  of  Crich,  to  serve  as  a  remembrance  of  him— 
one  chalice,  value  8  marks — one  missal,  value  100  shillings — one 
antiphonar,  f  value  60  shillings — and  one  great  psalter,  which 
William  de  Balidene,  formerly  vicar,  gave  to  William  de  Wake- 
bridge  and  the  parishioners  as  a  remembrance,  and  who  did  many 
other  good  works  for  the  church  of  Crich— as  well  as  other 
chalices,  books,  vestments,  tunicles,  copes,  surplices,  and  other 
ornaments. 

The  Crich  Chartulary  also  contains  (and  this  shall  be  our  last 
reference  to  it)  a  copy  of  an  encyclical  letter  of  Simon  Islip,| 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  of  the  year  1362,  relative  to  the  observ- 
ance of  Holy-days,  which  was  probably  ordered  to  be  read  in  all 
parish  churches.  It  is  of  considerable  interest  as  affording  an 
insight  into  the  habits  of  the  time,  but  as  it  is  not  in  any  way 
specially  local,  we  must  abstain  from  giving  more  than  a  brief 
abstract.  The  archbishop  complains  that  not  only  was  the  custom 
prevalent  of  transacting  ordinary  business  on  Saints'  days,  but  also 
of  indulging  in  abominable  and  blasphemous  practices,  so  that  what 
was  intended  to  serve  as  a  storing  up  of  devotion,  had  become  the 
occasion  of  an  outbreak  of  dissoluteness — that  the  festivals  were 
kept  rather  by  the  crowding  of  revellers  to  the  taverns  than  of 
communicants  to  the  churches — that  the  ear  was  greeted  more 
with  the  sounds  of  drunken  jestings  than  of  penitent  prayers — and 
that,  in  fine,  the  whole  purport  of  God  in  hallowing  the  Sabbath, 
and  of  the  Church  in  setting  apart  other  days  for  pious  observances, 
had  by  the  multitude  been  completely  perverted.  He  therefore 
enjoins,  throughout  the  whole  of  his  province  of  Canterbury,  that 
every  Sunday  shall  be  observed,  beginning  with  the  vesper  hour  of 
the  previous  Saturday,  and  not  sooner,  lest  they  should  seem  to  be 
participators  in  Jewish  professions — that  they  should  also  observe 
the  feasts  of  SS.  Stephen,  John,  Innocents,  Thomas  the  Martyr, 
Circumcision,  Epiphany,  Purification,  Easter  with  three  days  fol- 
lowing, Mark,  Philip  and  James,  Invention  of  the  Cross,  Ascension, 

*  If  we  reflect  that  the  then  value  of  money  must  be  multiplied  by  at  least  20  to 
get  the  present  value,  we  can  form  some  idea  of  the  exceptional  costliness  and 
splendour  of  the  vestments  that  were  used  to  God's  honour  in  the  parish  church  of 
Crich  in  mediaeval  days.  "  Camaca "  was  the  name  of  a  cloth,  made  of  silk  and 
interwoven  with  other  precious  stuff. 

f  The  antiphonar  contained  the  music  for  the  hours,  anthems,  hymns,  and  psalms, 
noted  in  plain  chant. 

I  Simon   Islip   was  connected  with   this   county.      He  held  the    prebendary  of 
Saudiacre  from  1347  to  1350. 
5 


50  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Pentecost  with  three  days  following,  Corpus  Christi,  Nativity  of 
S.  John  Baptist,  Peter  and  Paul,  Translation  of  S.  Thomas 
the  Martyr,  Mary  Magdalen,  James,  Assumption,  Bartholomew, 
Lawrence,  Nativity  of  B.  V.  M.,  Exaltation  of  the  Cross,  Matthew, 
Michael,  Luke,  Simon,  Jude,  All  Saints,  Andrew,  Nicholas,  Concep- 
tion, Thomas  the  Apostle,  and  the  dedication  of  parish  churches, 
and  of  saints  in  whose  honour  they  are  dedicated — that  on  all 
these  days  the  parishioners  shall  he  admonished  and  induced  not 
only  to  attend  Mass,  but  also  the  full  complement  of  the  services 
— that  the  relics  of  the  saints  should  he  carried  ad  opera  ruralia 
according  to  custom  —  and  that  any  foremen  of  operatives  or 
labourers  who  suffer  the  usual  work  to  be  carried  out  on  these 
days,  shah1  be  visited  with  the  censures  of  the  Church. 

The  inventory  of  church  goods,  taken  in  the  reign  of  Edward 
VI.,  has  the  following,  relative  to  this  church  : — 

"  Cryche.     Oct.  6.     Rich.  Banks  clerke. 

"  iiij  bells  in  the  steple — j  chalys  of  sylver  with  paten — ij  cruetts  of  pewter — 
iij  vestments  whereof  j  of  blew  sylke  and  the  other  of  blewe  chamblet  j  of  redde 
wostyd— ij  tables  clothe—  ij  hangings  before  the  table — j  coope  of  old  sylke — 
j  corperas  with  two  cases — ij  crosses  j  of  tynne  j  of  brasse — j  hand  bell — ij 
candlestycks  of  pewter — j  byble  with  the  paraphracs — j  coffer  with  iij  lockes  and 
iij  keyes.  There  was  ij  chalyces  belongyng  to  the  chauntrez  there  wch  Jo 
Beamonte  Esq.,  hadde." 

The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  gives  the  clear  value  of  the  vicarage 
at  £6  10s.  lOd.  It  was  then  endowed  with  Easter  offerings, 
oblations,  tithes  of  hay,  lambs,  wool,  pigs,  geese,  flax,  and  hemp, 
and  with  the  annual  pension  from  Wakebridge  in  lieu  of  tithes. 

The  following  is  the  statement  made  by  the  Parliamentary  Com- 
missioners of  1650  : — 

"  Crich  is  a  vicarige  really  worth  tenne  pounds  per  annum  noe  Chappell 
appirteyning.  Tansley  is  a  hamblitt  appirteyning  and  thre  myles  distant  and 
fitt  to  be  united  to  Matlocke  in  the  hundred  of  Wirksworth  it  lying  nearer  to 
Matlocke  the  profitts  are  about  ffortye  shillings  per  annum. 

"  Wessington  grange,  Leas,  and  Lindwaye  lane  are  Members  butt  remote  and 
fitt  to  be  united  to  Trinitye  Chappell  in  the  hundred  of  Scarsdale." 

"  £200  raised  by  the  parish  of  Crich  and  several  gentlemen  in 
that  neighbourhood,  and  £200  more  advanced  by  the  Trustees  of 
Queen  Anne's  bounty,  were  laid  out  in  lands  at  Plaistow  Green, 
within  the  parish  of  Crich  aforesaid,  for  augmenting  the  church 
living  there,  towards  the  latter  end  of  1746.  By  mistake  the 
lands,  &c.,  are  said  to  be  in  Wheatcroft."* 

The  vicars  of  Crich  were,  of  course,  appointed  by  the  Abbots  of 

*  Add.  MSS.  6705,  f.  12. 


CRICH.  51 

Darley  up  to  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  but 
after  that  date  there  was  much  confusion  with  respect  to  the 
patronage  of  the  advowson,  in  connection  with  which  there  were 
several  lawsuits  of  interminable  length.  The  claims  were  so 
conflicting  that  the  successive  Bishops  of  Lichfield  declined  to 
exercise  their  right  to  collate,  and  the  presentation  consequently 
lapsed  to  the  Crown.  There  is  not  a  single  presentation  to  Crick 
entered  in  the  episcopal  registers  of  the  seventeenth  century,  nor 
is  there  one  of  the  eighteenth  century,  until  1793.  At  the  end 
of  last  century  the  right  of  presentation  was  claimed  by  Sir 
Wolstan  Dixie,  and  also  by  Sir  Edward  "Wilmot,  both  claiming 
through  the  heiresses  of  John  Claye,  who  is  alleged  to  have  obtained 
it  hi  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  from  Anthony  Babington,  who  certainly 
held  the  great  tithes  of  Crich  through  grant  from  the  Crown.* 
Eventually  the  Dixie  family  made  good  their  claim  to  the  advowson, 
but  after  two  presentations  sold  it  to  trustees. 

The  pre-reformation  part  of  the  following  list  of  vicars  is  taken 
from  the  Episcopal  registers,  and  the  remainder  chiefly  from  the 
returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office,  and  the  parish  register  : — 

.  Bricius. 

1278.  William  de  Draycote. 
1298.  John  de  Whalleye. 

1313.  William  de  Baliden.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  de  W, 

1340.  Richard  de  RadeclifF,  rector  of  Nuthall,  exchanged  benefices  with  W.  de  B., 
vicar  of  Crich. 

1348.  Robert  de  Wakebridge,  vicar  of  S.  Mary's,  Nottingham,  exchanged  benefices 
with  E.  de  R.,  vicar  of  Crich. 

1349.  William  de  Baliden.    On  the  death  of  R.  de  W. 

.  Radus  de  Findern.    On  the  resignation  of  W.  de  B. 
1345.  Roger  de  Walton,  rector  of  Whittington,  exchanged  benefices  with  R.  de  F., 

vicar  of  Crich. 

1356.  William  de  Weston.    On  the  death  of  R.  de  W. 
1393.  John  Whitlessey.     Collated  of  the  Bishop. 

.  John  Bagworth.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  W. 
1397.  William  Bacon.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  B. 

.  Thomas  Hoppeley. 
1402.  John  Osmond.     On  the  death  of  T.  H. 

.  William  Garton,  rector  of  Bulwell,  exchanged  benefices  with  J.  O.,  vicar  of 
Crich. 

.  Peter  Trusbut. 

1418.  Hugo  Penyale.    On  the  resignation  of  P.  T. 
1441.  James  Hyton,  late  chantry  priest.    On  the  resignation  of  H.  P. 
1451.  John  Fesand.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  H. 

.  James  Romsore. 

1505.  Richard  Repyngdon.    On  the  death  of  J.  R. 
(1535.)  William  Richardson.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 

*  See  an  elaborate  statement  of  this  claim  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  the  local  antiquary, 
given  in  full  in  Glover's  Derbyshire,  vol.  2,  p.  321-3. 


52  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1542.  Richard  Bankys ;  patrons,  Robert  and  Thomas  Bradshaw,  for  this  turn,  by 
virtue  of  an  agreement  with  the  Abbot  of  the  lately  dissolved  monastery  of 
Darley.  On  the  death  of  W.  R. 

».*«•*.* 

1629.  Thomas  Shelmardine ;  patron,  John  Eley,  gen. 

.  Joseph  Topham.      Parish  Registers.      Probably  he  followed  T.  S.  on  his 
I    ejection  in  1662. 

.  Thomas  England,  died  Feb.  7th,  1730. 

1731.  John  Walker;  patron,  the  King,  through  lapse  of  time. 
1775.  John  Mason ;  patron,  the  King. 
1793.  Samuel  Davenport ;  patron,  the  King,  by  reason  of  lunacy.     On  the  death  of 

J.  M. 

1801.  Thomas  Cornthwaite ;  patron,  the  King.    On  the  death  of  S.  D. 
1838.  Thomas  Carson  ;  patron,  Sir  W.  W.  Dixie.     On  the  resignation  of  T.  C. 
1849.  G.  W.  Lewis;  patron,  Sir  W.  W.  Dixie.     On  the  resignation  of  T.  C. 
1855.  William  Chawner ;   patrons,  Edward  Radford,  Henry  Anne  Norman,  Rev. 

M.    Holmes,    John    Garton,    and  William    Wathey.      On  the  resignation  of 

G.  W.  L. 
1875.  William   Acraman;    patrons,   Rev.    Melville  Holmes,  clerk,    Henry    Anne 

Norman,    gentleman,    and    Thomas    Bellamy   Dale,  manufacturer.       On   the 

resignation  of  W.  C. 

The  church  of  Crich,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Mary,*  consists 
of  nave,  side  aisles,  and  south  porch,  chancel,  with  north  vestry, 
and  tower  and  spire  at  the  west  end.  The  nave  and  aisles  are 
each  50ft.  long,  and  their  united  width  is  46ft.  The  chancel  is 
39  ft.  by  18  ft.  Of  the  church  that  seems  to  have  been  first 
erected  here  by  Kalph  FitzRalph  in  the  reign  of  Stephen  (1135-54), 
there  are  considerable  remains.  The  nave  is  separated  from  the 
aisles  on  each  side  by  three  plain  and  round  Norman  arches, 
supported  on  circular  columns  having  square  capitals.  The  arcade 
on  the  south  is  a  few  years  later  in  style  than  that  on  the  north, 
showing  that  the  body  of  the  church  originally  consisted  only  of 
nave  and  north  aisle.  At  the  west  end  of  the  south  aisle  is  the 
Norman  font,  which  is  37  inches  high  and  27  inches  in  diameter. 
It  is  circular  and  of  massive  appearance,  and  surrounded  with  a 
coarsely  executed  moulding  of  the  cable  pattern.  At  the  restoration 
of  this  church  in  1861,  the  font  was  rather  too  freely  re-chiselled. 

The  church  does  not  appear  to  have  been  touched  in  the  Early 

*  There  is  no  doubt  whatever  as  to  the  real  dedication  of  this  church  being  to  S. 
Mary,  for  it  is  repeatedly  mentioned  by  name  both  in  the  Crich  chartulary  and  in 
different  chartularies  of  Darley  Abbey.  It  is  also  thus  given  in  Bacon's  Liber  Regis, 
and  in  the  county  histories  of  Pilkington,  Davies,  and  Glover.  It  was  not  until  the 
issue  of  that  utterly  misleading  work  (so  far  as  ecclesiology  is  concerned),  Kelly's 
Post  Office  Directory,  in  1855,  that  an  alleged  dedication  to  S.  Michael  was  published, 
but  since  that  date  numerous  directories  aud  the  yearly  edition  of  the  Derbyshire  Red 
Book  persist  in  assigning  it  to  S.  Michael.  The  wakes,  it  is  true,  are  held  at  Michael- 
mas, but,  as  has  been  already  pointed  out  several  times  in  these  pages,  wakes  at  Lady 
Day  or  Michaelmas  are  no  guide.  Moreover,  the  feast-day,  on  whatever  day  it  may 
occur,  though  it  can  fairly  be  claimed  as  corroborative  evidence,  is  no  proof  in  itself 
of  the  dedication ;  for  that  day  was  usually  the  anniversary  of  the  consecration  of  the 
church,  and  it  frequently  happened  that  a  church  was  not  consecrated  on  the  day  of 
the  Saint  to  whom  it  was  dedicated. 


53 

English  period,  but  at  the  time  of  the  Decorated  style,  which 
extended  over  the  greater  part  of  the  fourteenth  century,  it  was 
thoroughly  renovated,  and  rebuilt.  The  chancel,  vestry,  tower,  spire, 
and  exterior  walls  of  the  aisles  are  of  that  epoch,  though  of  slightly 
differing  dates.  The  windows  in  the  south  aisle  show  that  it  was 
rebuilt  about  1300-20.  The  chancel  is  of  good  character  through- 
out, especially  the  east  and  south  windows.  It  has  a  priest's  door 
on  the  south,  and  opposite  to  it  is  a  doorway  opening  into  a  vestry, 
the  external  wall-plate  of  which  shows  it  to  have  been  of  the  same 
date,  though  much  altered  subsequently.  At  the  time  when  the 
chancel  was  built,  circa  1350,  it  would  seem  that  the  nave  was 
lengthened  and  the  two  narrow  pointed  arches  at  the  east  end  of 
the  nave  arcades  inserted.  The  tower,  which  has  a  moulded 
parapet,  with  an  effective  band  of  wavy  lines  closely  resembling  that 
at  Chesterfield,  is  of  much  the  same  date,  as  well  as  the  spire,* 
which  is  octagonal  with  two  tiers  of  lights.  The  north  aisle  was 
also  evidently  rebuilt  about  this  date,  viz.,  at  the  time  when  Sir 
William  de  Wakebridge  founded  the  chantry  of  SS.  Nicholas  and 
Katharine  in  that  aisle,  so  that  probably  the  example  set  by  him 
caused  the  Abbey  of  Darley  and  the  parish  generally  to  re-model 
the  rest  of  the  fabric.  There  is  a  curiously  carved  stone,  of  Norman 
pattern,  utilised  in  the  capital  of  the  narrow  arch  near  the  east 
end  of  the  north  aisle,  which  is  placed  upside  down.  Below  it 
may  also  be  noticed  a  portion  of  the  head  of  an  early  incised 
sepulchral  cross.  In  the  north  wall  is  a  doorway,  now  blocked 
up.  The  weather  moulding  of  the  high  pitch  roof  of  the  Decorated 
period  may  be  noticed  on  the  west  side  of  the  tower. 

The  present  roof  of  the  nave  is  nearly  flat,  and  was  added  when 
the  walls  over  the  nave  arcades  were  raised  so  as  to  admit  of  the 
three-light  square-headed  clerestory  windows.  This  alteration  was  of 
the"  Perpendicular  period.  The  porch  has  a  plain  Perpendicular 
doorway,  and  square-headed  windows  of  two  lights.  The  west 
window  of  the  south  aisle  is  also  of  that  period.  The  chancel 
roof  is  supported  on  the  old  stone  corbel-heads,  small  but  good, 
of  the  original  Decorated  design,  five  on  each  side. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  piscina,  with  a  trefoil 
arch.  The  piscina  drain  for  the  high  altar  is  in  the  sill  of  the 


*  We  may  here  notice,  as  a  useful  warning  to  others,  how  much  the  effect  of  this 
spire  has  been  recently  spoiled  by  repointing  it  with  white  mortar,  which  has  given 
it  a  patchy  and  semi -new  appearance  that  will  last  for  a  generation.  The  simple  and 
costless  expedient  of  mixing  a  little  wood-ash  or  other  colouring  ingredient  with  the 
lime  should  always  be  adopted  in  repointing  old  stone  work. 


54  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

south  chancel  window,  but  it  has  no  niche  over  it.  Oil  the  same 
side  are  three  sedilia  of  equal  elevation,  with  trefoiled  arches. 
In  the  north  chancel  wall  is  a  recess,  now  closed  with  an  oak 
door,  and  used  as  a  cupboard  or  ahnery.  It  is,  however,  evident 
that  this  recess  has  originally  been  a  sloping  aperture  or  squint, 
going  right  through  the  wall  into  the  vestry,  so  as  to  give  the 
sacristan  or  occupant  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  high  altar. 
Over  this  aperture  is  fixed  a  large  projecting  stone,  which  from  the 
angle  at  which  it  is  fixed,  and  the  ledge  on  the  lower  side,  has 
evidently  been  intended  for  a  gospel  lectern,  of  which  we  have 
already  noticed  several  in  Derbyshire  churches,  though  they  are  of 
the  rarest  occurrence  elsewhere.  The  visitor  will  probably  be  told, 
as  we  have  been,  that  this  aperture  was  used  for  confessions,  and 
that  on  the  ledge  the  Father  Confessor  rested  his  book  of  instruc- 
tions whilst  listening  to  the  penitent  within  the  vestry  ! 

The  parapets  of  the  aisles  are  plainly  moulded,  but  those  of  the 
nave  over  the  clerestory  windows  are  embattled.  In  the  parapet 
on  the  east  gable  of  the  nave  is  a  sanctus  bell-cote. 

On  the  west  wall  of  the  tower  is  a  well-moulded  ogee-headed 
niche  of  rather  large  proportions.  There  is  a  tradition  at  Crich 
that  the  figure  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  which  once  occupied  this 
niche,  was  removed  to  S.  Mary's  church  at  Nottingham.*  There 
is  generally  some  basis  for  every  tradition,  and  it  may  possibly 
have  some  connection  with  the  exchange  of  benefices  between  the 
vicars  of  Crich  and  Nottingham  in  the  fourteenth  century,  that 
has  been  already  recorded. 

In  the  north  wall  of  the  north  aisle  is  a  sepulchral  recess  of 
ogee  form,  trefoiled,  and  with  continuous  mouldings.  There  can  be 
no  doubt  whatever  that  this  recess  was  constructed  for  the  founder 
of  the  chantry  in  this  aisle ;  but  that  does  not  of  itself  prove  that 
the  effigy  now  there  is  the  founder,  as  effigies  in  course  of  time 
were  often  placed  within  recesses  for  which  they  had  not  been 
originally  intended.  The  effigy  now  there  is  not  a  precise  fit,  but 
then  this  was  seldom  the  case,  as  monuments,  except  of  the 
roughest  type,  were  usually  constructed  by  skilled  workmen  at  a 
distance,  and  afterwards  forwarded  to  be  placed  in  their  proper 
position.  This  effigy  is  the  figure  of  a  man,  dressed  in  a  long 
gown  reaching  to  the  ankles,  closely  buttoned  from  the  neck  to  the 
waist,  bare-headed,  with  long  hair  and  beard,  the  hands  joined  over 

*  This  tradition  first  reached  us  through  a  letter  in  the  Derbyshire  Times,  dated 
Crich  Carr,  August  8th,  1871,  and  signed  "  W.  H." 


CRICH.  55 

the  breast,  and  the  feet  resting  on  a  dog.  Two  small  angels  have 
supported  the  man's  head,  hut  that  on  the  left  is  broken  off. 
That  on  the  right  holds  a  Katharine  wheel  to  the  ear  of  the  effigy. 
In  all  probability  the  other,  when  perfect,  had  an  emblem  of  8. 
Nicholas,  to  whom  this  chantry  was  jointly  dedicated.  This  figure 
has  always  been  supposed,  until  recent  years,  to  represent  Sir 
William  de  Wakebridge.  It  is  thus  spoken  of  by  Bassano  (1710), 
who  adduces  as  proof  the  close  contiguity  of  two  alabaster  slabs 
bearing  the  arms  of  Wakebridge,  but  which  have  since  disappeared. 
Lately  it  has  been  claimed  by  the  representatives  of  the  Bellairs 
family  as  the  effigy  of  Sir  Koger  Beler,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Crich, 
and  one  of  the  itinerant  justices.  But  the  proof  that  has  been 
adduced  in  support  of  this  claim  is  very  meagre.  It  is  said  that 
the  costume  is  that  of  a  judge,  and  not  of  one  who  has  been 
specially  described  as  a  valiant  knight.*  But  the  fact  is,  that 
the  dress  is  that  of  an  ordinary  civilian  of  the  day,  and  not  that 
of  a  judge ;  and  what  is  more  likely  than  that  Sir  William  de 
Wakebridge,  who  abandoned  the  pursuit  of  arms  from  the  time  of 
his  entering  on  his  estate  up  to  his  death,  a  period  of  twenty-three 
years,  and  who  gave  himself  up  to  good  works,  should  be  thus 
depicted.  Moreover,  it  cannot  be  proved  that  Sir  Roger  Beler  was 
ever  resident  at  Crich,  whilst  Sir  William  lived  on  his  manor  close 
to  the  parish  church.  .  Certainly  Sir  Roger  Beler  would  never  be 
buried  in  the  founder's  tomb  of  the  Wakebridge  chantry,  and  it  is 
only  on  the  supposition  that  the  effigy  has  been  moved  there,  that 
a  word  can  be  said  in  favor  of  the  Beler  theory.  But  then 
Bassano,  and  after  him,  Reynolds,  describe  this  tomb  as  guarded 
by  iron  bars  and  palisades,  which  were  fixed  into  the  tomb  itself 
and  into  the  walls  with  lead,  and  which  then  seemed  in  themselves 
very  ancient.  It  is  not  credible  that  such  an  outrage  on  the 
memory  of  the  great  benefactor  of  Crich  would  have  been  permitted 
so  long  ago,  as  to  place  in  his  tomb  the  effigy  of  another. 
Moreover,  the  evidence  of  the  Katharine  wheel  is  almost  sufficient 
of  itself  to  connect  the  effigy  with  the  founder  of  the  chautry.  On 
the  whole,  we  can  only  conclude  by  saying  that  we  know  of  no 

*  The  following  is  the  passage  from  which  this  description  of  Sir  William  is  taken ; 
it  is  from  Wyrley's  True  Use  of  Arms,  1592,  and  is  worth  quoting  in  explanation  of 
the  Wakebridge  coat : — "  Another  sort  there  be  not  much  more  skilful,  who  if  they 
see  any  Armorie  straight  enter  into  the  comparison  of  the  fairies  thereof :  and  foul  and 
false  it  is,  if  metall  be  upon  metall  alone,  or  colour  upon  colour  :  And  yet  I  could  wish 
we  should  never  have  more  dishonorable  men  nor  woorse  soldiers  than  have  so  borne 

their  Armorie :  for  to  admit  that  worthy  Godfrey,  etc.,  etc of  our  owne  Sir 

Eichard  Sandbach  of  Saudbach  in  Cheshire,  Sir  William  Wakbirge  of  Wakbirge  in 
Darbyshire,  two  valiant  knights,  yet  both  bare  colour  upon  colour." 


56  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

other  uninscribed  monument  in  England  whose  identity  can  be 
proved  by  more  weighty  cii-cumstantial  evidence,  than  can  be 
adduced  with  regard  to  this  effigy  of  Sir  William  de  Wakebridge, 
and  we  should  have  thought  it  superfluous  to  have  written  thus 
much  in  its  favour,  had  •  it  not  been  for  the  repeated  attempts  to 
establish  the  Beler  theory.*  A  legend,  still  current  in  Crich,  says 
that  this  figure  is  to  the  memory  of  the  man  who  built  the  church, 
who  fell  when  he  was  in  the  act  of  putting  the  top  stone  to  the 
spire,  and  in  falling  crushed  his  dog  that  was  on  the  ground 
below.  Hence  a  monument  was  erected  to  him  with  his  dog  at  his 
feet !  But  it  is  worth  observing  that  even  in  this  tale  the  connection 
between  the  effigy  and  the  founder  of  the  fabric  of  the  church  is 
retained,  and  it  may  very  possibly  preserve  the  fact,  that  Sir 
William  de  Wakebridge  was  a  considerable  benefactor  to  other  parts 
of  the  building  besides  the  north  aisle. 

On  the  death  of  Sir  William  in  1372,  his  sister  and  heiress, 
Cecilia,  brought  Wakebridge  to  Sir  John  Pole.  The  second  son  of 
that  match,  Ealph,  inherited  this  estate,  the  elder  settling  at 
Radbourn.  Thomas  Pole,  lord  of  Wakebridge  in  the  reign  of  Edward 
VI.,  was  son  and  heir  of  Ealph,  and  Thomas  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  and  heir,  Ealph  Pole,  who  married  for  his  first  wife,  Beatrice, 
the  eldest  of  the  six  daughters  of  John  Babington,  of  Dethick,t  and 
for  his  second  wife,  Anne,  daughter  of  Philip  Leche,  of  Chatsworth. 
On  the  floor  of  the  north  aisle,  near  to  Sir  William's  effigy,  is  an 
alabaster  stone,  on  which  a  small  part  of  the  marginal  inscription 
still  remains,  quite  sufficient  to  prove  it  to  be  the  memorial  of 
Ralph  Pole  and  his  wife,  or  wives  : —  ....  Watebrige  et  Beatrix 
Jilia  Johis  Babyngton  uxor  fj.' 

Thomas,  the  eldest  son  of  Ealph  Pole  by  his  first  wife/  died 
without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  John  Pole,  who 
by  his  first  wife,  Agnes,  daughter  of  Thomas  Bagshawe,  of  Eidge, 
left  issue,  German  Pole,  who  inherited  the  Wakebridge  estate  on  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1537.  German  Pole  first  married  his  distant 
relative,  Jane,  daughter  of  German  Pole,  of  Eadbourn,  by  whom 
he  had  one  daughter,  Katharine,  who  died  unmarried ;  his  second 
wife,  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Edward  Ferrers.  His  widow 
afterwards  married  John  Claye,  of  Crich. 

An  altar  tomb  to  the  memory  of  German  Pole  and  his  second 
wife,  used  to  stand  at  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle.  The  upper 

*  A  recent  visitor  went  so  far  as  to  scribble  in  pencil  the  name  of  Sir  Roger  Beler 
and  the  date  of  his  death  on  the  moulding  of  the  arch, 
f  Niohols'  Collectanea,  vol.  viii.,  p.  325. 


CRICH.  57 

slab  was  dismounted  when  the  church  was  repewed  about  the 
end  of  last  century,  and  was  then  laid  on  the  floor  in  the  same 
position.  At  the  1861  restoration,  it  was,  with  questionable  pro- 
priety, moved  to  the  chancel,  and  is  now  fixed  against  the  north 
wall  close  to  the  east  end.  Upon  it  are  depicted  the  figures  of  a 
man  in  civilian  costume  and  a  woman,  both  wearing  ruffs.  The 
man's  feet  rest  on  an  eagle,  those  of  the  woman  on  a  unicorn. 
The  inscription  at  the  base  of  the  figures  is  in  Roman  capitals, 
but  is  much  effaced,  and  parts  are  altogether  missing.  We  are, 
however,  able  to  give  a  restored  copy  of  the  inscription  from 
notes  of  this  church  taken  by  J.  Eeynolds,  of  Plaistow,  April  25th, 
1758,  collecting  them  with  the  previous  ones  of  Bassano  : — * 

"  Hie  Situs  est  corpus  Germain  Poole  dominus  de  Watebirge  in  comitatu 
Darbie  armigeri  qui  ab  hoc  seculo  transmigravit  xxvi  Aprilis  Anno  a  Virginis 
partu  1588,  dux  it  que  uxorem  Margaretain  filiam  Edwardi  filii  Johannis  Ferrers 
de  Tamworth  militis.  Postea  renupta  predicta  Margareta  fait  Johanni  Claye 
generoso  et  utrique  steris  erat  1392." 

Steris  is  a  contraction  for  sterilis,  and  1392  is  an  obvious  slip 
for  1592. 

On  the  stone  are  two  shields,  Pole  quartering  Wakebridge  and 
Ferrers.  The  Poles  of  Wakebridge  did  not  become  extinct  owing 
to  German  Pole's  failure  of  issue,  for  his  father,  John  Pole,  had 
by  his  second  wife,  a  son,  George  Pole,  of  Spinkhill,  in  right  of 
his  wife,  heiress  of  Hazlehurst,  of  that  place.  The  male  lines  of 
Pole,  through  Francis  and  George,  sons  of  George  Pole,  did  not 
become  extinct  till  1724  and  1750,  respectively. 

Below  this  slab,  in  the  north-east  corner  of  the  chancel,  is  a 
raised  or  altar  tomb  of  alabaster,  on  which  are  incised  the  figures 
of  a  man  and  his  wife.  In  the  middle  of  the  tomb,  across  the 
centre  of  the  figures,  is  a  quaint  inscription,  parts  of  which  are 
now  wholly  illegible,!  but  which  we  are  able  to  give  from  the 
previously  named  sources  : — 

"  Heere  lieth  John  Clay  gentleman  and  Mary  whom  he  first  did  wive. 

With  her  he  lived  near  eight  years  space  in  which  God  gave  them  children  five. 

Daughter  to  William  Caltoii  Esquir  who  was  unto  that  kinge  of  fame 

Henrie  the  eight  chief  cock  matcher  and  servante  of  his  hawkes  by  name. 

And  as  she  had  a  former  match,  Charnell  of  Swarkston  in  Lestershire, 

So  she  deceast  this  Clay  did  take  the  widow  of  German  Poole,  Esquire. 

*  Add.  MSS  ,  6,101,  is  a  folio  of  church  notes  entirely  written  by  Mr.  Eeynolds,  to 
which  we  have  several  times  referred  in  these  pages.  His  account  of  Crich  was  pub- 
lished nearly  in  extenso  in  Nichols'  Collectanea,  vol.  i.,  pp  42-51.  There  are  also 
some  further  notes  on  this  church,  by  Eeynolds,  in  Add.  MSS  ,  6,666,  f.  585. 

t  Eeynolds  says : — "  The  tomb  is  so  much  worn  with  boys  climbing  upon  it, 
whilst  the  churchwardens  suffered  one  Joseph  Mather,  a  lame  ignorant  person,  to 
teach  school  in  the  chancel  (which  infamous  practice  was  continued  till  about  1732), 
that  most  of  the  writing  is  obliterated." 


58  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Daughter  of  Edward  who  was  son  to  Sir  Johu  Ferrers  of  Tamworth,  Knight. 

Shee  lies  entombed  in  this  Church  with  him  to  whom  she  first  was  plight. 

And  now  this  Claye  is  closed  in  Claye,  the  fairest  flesh  doth  fade  like  grass. 

He  had  on  sister  who  unto  Stuffyn  of  Shirbrook  married  was. 

For  deathe  doth  give  an  end  to  all  and  now  this  clay  shall  reste  herein. 

All  claye  to  claye  shall  com  at  last  by  deathe  the  due  reward  of  synne. 

Thou  deathe,  his  deathe,  thy  deathe  is  he  whose  soule  doth  live  with   Criste  for 

aye. 
The  stinge  of  death  can  no  one  flee,  the  greatest  monarchs  are  but  claye." 

On  the  south  side  of  the  top  of  the  tomb  : — 

"  Vivo  tibi,  moriorque  tibi,  tibi  Christe,  resurgam, 

Christe,  prohendo  tuam  justitiamque  fide. 
Hinc  abeat  mortis  terror,  tibi  vivo,  Redemptor, 
Hors  mihi  jam  lucrum  est ;  Tu,  pie  Christe,  salus. 

Laus  Deo." 

On  the  south-east  corner  of  the  tonib  :— 

"Iste  Johannes  obiit  mortem    ....    meusis  Maii   anno  1632  et  ista  Maria  obiit 
mortem  31  mensis  Augusti  anno  1583." 

Between  the  legs  of  the  portrait  of  the  man  : — 

"  Hoc  lutum  Deo  figulo.    Eom.  ix." 

Nearer  the  east  end,  between  his  feet : — 

"  Condita  erat  hsec  tumba  anno  1603." 

On  the  top  stone  are  three  escutcheons :  (1)  Claye  («>'{j.,  a 
chevron  engrailed  between  three  trefoils  slipped,  sab ),  (2)  Claye 
impaling  Calton  (sab.,  a  saltire  engrailed  between  four  cross  cross- 
lets,  or)  and  Ferrers  (vaire),  and  (3)  Calton  alone.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  tomb  are  three  panels  with  the  three  daughters, 
Susanna,  Mary,  and  Penelope,  kneeling.  Behind  Susanna  and 
Mary  are  drawn  impaled  shields,  the  dexter  half  left  blank,  showing 
they  were  unmarried  in  1603,  but  behind  Penelope  is  a  shield  of 
Brailsford  (on  a  bend  three  cinquefoils  pierced)*  impaling  Claye, 
and  on  the  cushion  on  which  she  kneels  : — 

"  Nupta  erat  Thome  Brelsford  de  Senor,  g'n'so." 

At  the  west  end  of  the  tomb  are  portraits  in  relief  of  the  two 
sons,  William  and  Theophilus,  also  kueeliug.  By  each  of  them  is 

written : — 

"  Mortuus  est," 

and  under  the  cushions  : — 

"  Isti  filii  obierant  in  juventute  sua."f 

The  Visitation  pedigrees  of  Claye  begin  with  one  John  Claye,  of 
Crich  and  Chapel-en-le-Frith,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Lathbury. 

*  The  proper  arms  of  Brailsford  are  :  or,  a  cinquefoil,  sab. 

•f  Theophilus  Claye  was  buried  2  March,  1590 ;  Thomas  Brailsford  and  Penelope 
Claye  were  married  6  August,  1C01.  Parish  Register. 


CRICH.  59 

His  son,  Eobert  Claye,  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Simon  Wood, 
of  Burton,  Notts.  They  had  two  children,  John,  of  this  monument, 
and  his  sister,  Elizabeth,  also  mentioned  in  the  inscription.  The 
daughters,  Susanna  and  Mary,  commemorated  on  the  tomb,  married 
respectively  Eobert  Clarke,  of  Mansfield,  and  Timothy  Pusey,  of 
Selstou.*  Elizabeth,  youngest  of  the  three  daughters,  and  co-heir 
of  Timothy  Pusey,  married  William  Willoughby,  and  their  daughter, 
Mary  Willoughby,  married  Beaumont  Dixie  ;  hence  arose  the  pre- 
viously mentioned  claim  of  Sir  Wolston  Dixie  to  the  advowson  of 
Crich  vicarage,  and  also  the  claim  of  Sir  Edward  Wilmot,  as 
having  purchased  from  Dixie. 

This  tomb  of  John  Claye  has  always  been  in  the  chancel  and 
on  the  north  side,  though  it  used  to  stand  close  to  the  chancel 
screen,  and  the  present  west  end  was  to  the  east.  He  had  a  right 
to  this  situation,  having  purchased  the  great  tithes  of  Crich  from 
Anthony  Babington  in  1584. 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  fixed  a  board,  with  the 
following  lines  painted  on  it  in  black  letter ;  this  board  used  to 
be  fastened  to  the  upper  part  of  the  rude  screen  on  the  chancel 
side  : — 

"  Soules  they  are  made  of  Heavenly  Spirit : 
From  whence  they  come  ye  heavens  inherite 
Did  know  that  bodyes  made  of  Claye  : 
Death  will  devoure  by  night  or  daye 
Tett  is  he  as  hee  was  I  saye : 
He  living  and  dead  remainth  Claye. 
His  verye  name  that  nature  gave : 
Is  nowe  as  shal  be  in  his  Grave 
Tymes  doth  teache,  experience  tryes  : 
That  claye  to  duste  the  winde  up  dryes. 
Then  this  a  wonder  coumpt  we  must : 
That  want  of  winde  should  make  claye  dust."t 

In  the  south-east  angle  of  the  chancel  is  an  altar  tomb  of 
alabaster,  on  which  is  the  incised  effigy  of  a  man  La  plate  armour. 
Bound  the  margin  is  : — 

•Harl.  MSS.  1093,  f.  121;  5809,  f.  47;  Egerton  MSS.  996,  f.  42.  In  the  Egertou 
MSS.  the  issue  of  John  Claye  by  his  first  wife,  Maria,  widow  of  Nicholas  Charuell,  is 
by  a  mistake  transposed  to  the  credit  of  his  second  wife,  Margaret. 

•(  "  6  March  1778.  A  ceiled  bedstead  formerly  belonging  to  John  Claye  of  Crich  in 
Co.  Derby,  gent,  was  exposed  to  sale  this  day  at  John  Ludlams,  in  Shirland.  On  the 
middle  pannel  of  the  head  thereof  was  inlaid  in  wood  of  proper  colours  his  arms  and 
crest.  The  arms  being  Or,  a  chevron  ingrailed,  between  three  trefoils  slipt,  Sable. 
Crest,  on  a  wreath— a  pr  of  wings  conjoined  and  elevated  (which  by  some  Heralds  is 
called  a  Vole).  And  on  that  on  the  dexter  side  is  his  arms  impaling  a  Saltire  between 
4  cross  crossletts.  Sinister.  His  arms  again  impaling  Varey,  Argt.  and  Sable. 
Being  the  respective  coats  of  his  2  wives."  Add.  MSS.,  6,705,  f.  23.  This  is  a  small 
4to  MS.,  in  Reynolds'  clear  autograph. 


60  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

"  Hie  jacet  Godfridus  Beresford  gen'  os*  dudu'  familiaris  s'vic's  Georgii  honoran- 
dissimi  Comitis  Salop  ac  filius  et  heres  appare's  Adini  Beresford  de  Fenny  bentley. 
Qui  obiit  vicesimo  nono  die  mensis  Nove'  bri  A°  dni  Mill0  d°  xiij." 

On  the  stone  is  a  nearly  effaced  coat  that  has  borne  Beresford 
and  Hassall  quarterly.  Aden  Beresford  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Thomas  Beresford  and  Agnes  Hassall.  By  his  wife,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Eoger  Eyre,  of  Holme,  he  had  Godfrey  of  this 
monument,  and  George,  who  succeeded  him  on  his  brother  dying 
childless.* 

On  the  floor  of  the  centre  aisle  of  the  nave  is  a  brass  plate, 
bearing  this  inscription  in  black  letter  : — 

"  Here  under  this  stone  the  Bodies  do  lye 
Of  Robert  Marshall  and  Margaret  his  wyfe. 
Whiche  in  this  town  lyved  quietlye 
Above  fyfty  yearis  withowt  debate  or  stryfe. 
x  children  they  hade  betwix  theym  in  their  lyfe 
iij  of  theym  doghters  and  sonnes  were  sevyn 
God  graunt  all  theyr  soules  reste  &  joy  in  Hevyn." 

There  is  no  date,  but  the  style  of  lettering  seems  to  be  of  the 
third  quarter  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

In  the  same  aisle  is  another  small  brass  plate,  with  the  following 
in  Eoman  capitals  : — 

"  John  Kirkeland,  Yeaoman, 

buried  heare, 
Whose  ansesrs  and  hee 

Lived  in  Weatcrost  above  five  hundred  yeare, 

Till  gentle  death  did  end  their  dayes, 

Yet  wee  will  give  our  God  the  praies. 

1652." 

The  family  of  Kirkland  is  said  to  have  originally  come  from 
Cumberland.  They  were  certainly  in  Derbyshire  as  early  as  the 
reign  of  Henry  III.  John  Kirkland,  by  his  will  dated  22  July, 
1650,  devised  unto  Godfrey  Clarke,  of  Somersall,  his  "  dear  and 
nearest  kinsman,"  all  his  lands,  etc.,  in  Wheatcroft,  Plaistow,  Crich, 
"Winfield,  Morewood,  Hognaston,  and  elsewhere,  reserving  a  rent 
charge  of  40s.  a  year,  out  of  his  capital  messuage  at  Wheatcroft, 
for  the  poor  of  Crich. t 

Upon  a  very  small  brass  plate  affixed  to  the  north  wall  of  the 
chancel,  with  an  infant  wrapped  in  grave  clothes  at  the  base,  is 
inscribed : — 

*  See  the  account  of  the  Beresfords  under  Fenny  Bentley  church,  Churclies   of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  463-9  ;  also  Harl.  MSS.,  5,809,  f.  7 ;  and  1,093,  f.  49. 
t  Reliquary,  vol.  xiii.,  pp.  219-223. 


CRICH.  6 1 

"  Noe  sooner  bloomed  but  blasted 

Yet  to  revive  with  Thine 

At  the  refreshing,  Ephraim  Shelmerdine. 

March  1°  1637." 

This  was  an  infant  son  of  Thomas  Shelmerdine,  the  Presbyterian, 
who  held  this  living  during  the  Commonwealth,  but  removed  to 
Matlock  rectory  in  1656,  whence  he  was  ejected  in  1662.*  His  son, 
Daniel,  as  we  have  already  seen,  held  the  living  of  Barrow-ou- 
Trent. 

In  Eeynolds'  notes  (1758)  occurs  the  following  notice  of  a  monu- 
ment that  has  now  quite  disappeared  : — "  About  the  middle  of  this 
chantry  (being  as  now  it .  is  in  the  alley  going  down  the  north 
aisle)  is  a  small  grey  marble  stone,  whereon  is  fixed  two  brass 
plates,  one  of  which  has  the  portrait  of  a  man  in  a  long  loose 
garment  drawn  upon  it,  but  the  head  is  now  taken  away ;  and  the 
other  has  the  following  inscription  in  antique  letters,  but  without 
date  : — 

'  Presbiter  hie  clausus  Wodrof  requiesco  Will'm's 

Qui  cantarie  custos  vocor  istius  ante. 

Ecce  q'd  esca  paror  pro  o'mibus  atque  cadaver 

Ut  sum  quisquis  erit,  nil  manet,  omne  perit, 

Corpus  mane  meum  licet  hie  cub  carne  putrescat, 

Attamen  ora  deum  spiritus  loca  alma  cupescat, 

Cui  des  introitum  deus  ad  tua  regna  refund! 

Visurum  salvatorem,  michi  spes  erit  ista.'  "f 

William  Woderowe,  Wodrof,  or  Woodruffe,  was  instituted  to  the 
chantry  of  SS.  Nicholas  and  Katharine  in  1459,  and  died  1490. 

In  the  outer  north  wall  of  this  aisle,  near  the  west  end,  is  a 
sepulchral  arched  recess,  with  bold  foliation.  In  Bassano's  time 
(1710)  upon  the  lid  of  the  coffined  receptacle  within  it  was  incised 
a  chalice.  We  have  little  doubt  that  this  was  designed  for  and 
occupied  by  the  first  priest  of  the  chantry — Eichard  Davy,  who 
died  in  1370.  In  the  eighteenth  century  this  receptacle  was  coolly 
reappropriated  for  the  remains  of  one  of  the  vicars  of  Crich,  the 
coffin  lid  reversed,  and  inscribed  with  the  name  of  Thomas  England, 
who  died  Feb.  7th,  1730. 

*  Thomas  Shelmerdine  was  of  Lancashire  birth  and  educated  at  Christ  College, 
Cambridge.  "  He  was  a  diligent  Preacher  at  Criche  clivers  years ;  where  he  was 
encompassed  with  many  good  old  Puritans,  that  liv'd  in  that  Parish  and  about  it, 
who  streugthen'd  his  Hands  much  in  his  Work.  He  was  a  Man  very  cheerful  in 
Converse.  A  kind  Husband  to  an  Holy  but  very  Melancholy  Wife.  From  Crich  he 
remov'd  to  Matlock  ....  He  remov'd  thence  when  he  was  Silenc'd  to  a  dwelling  at 
Wirksworth,  where  he  did  not  long  survive  "  Calamy's  Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii., 
p.  166.  He  was  frequently  Moderator  of  the  Presbyterian  Classis  at  Wirksworth,  as 
we  learn  from  their  MS.  minute  book. 

f  This  is  copied  verbatim  from  Reynolds  ;  there  are  obviously  several  mistakes  in 
his  transcription. 


62  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Bassano  also  mentions  that  there  was  then  a  north  porch,  as 
well  as  one  on  the  south  side. 

In  Wry  ley's  copy  (1592)  of  the  Visitation  of  1569  occur  the 
following  notes  respecting  Crich,  and  the  glass  then  extant  in  the 
windows,  the  monuments,  etc.  : — * 

"Crech  in  the  high  peake,  the  tenure  of  that  noble  familie  of  Musard, 
Hasculphus  Musard  the  20  of  the  conqueroure  did  hould  Creche  and  Staveley  in 
the  countie  of  Darbie,  whoe  had  yssue  Bitchard  Musard  Baron  of  Staveley,  whoe 
had  yssue  Hasculphus  Musard  Baron  of  Staveley,  whoe  had  yssue  Rauffe,  whoe 
had  yssue  Raffe  (6  R :  1),  who  had  yssue  A[micia]  M.  married  to  [Anker] 
Fretsvyle  whoe  held  Crech  and  Staveley  in  his  wyves  richt.  It  now  is  in  the 
possession  of  the  Earles  of  Srewesburie,  and  as  it  wear  an  appendix  to  their 
honor  of  winkfeild,  it  enioyeth  once  in  the  year  a  fayer  and  som  priviliges,  it  is 
now  the  habitacion  of  John  Cleay  Gentleman,  my  verie  good  frend  and  kinsman. 
It  is  seated  on  a  hill,  fertile  and  well  stored  both  for  wood  and  cole  near  the 
ryver  Darwen.  In  the  church  thes  Armes." 

1.  Party  per  pale,  gu.  and  sab.,  a  lion  rampant,  arg.  (Beler). 

2.  Am.,  two  chevrons,  or.  (Fitz  Ealph).f 

3.  England,  with  a  label  of   three  points,  each  charged  with  two 
fleurs-de-lis. 

4.  Bary  of  six,  arg.  and  az.  (Grey  of  Codnor). 

5.  Do.  do.  a  label  of  three  points,  gu. 

6.  Arg.,  a  fesse,  gu.,  between  six  lozenges,  sab.  (Wakebridge). 

7.  Az.,  a  fesse,  gu.,  between  six  lozenges,  sab.      (The  more  usual 
coat  of  Wakebridge). 

8.  Az.,  a  bend  between  six  escallops,  arg.  (Frecheville). 

9.  Arg.,  a  chevron  between  three  crescents,  gu.  (Pole). 

10.  Quarterly,  Pole  and  Wakebridge. 

11.  Pole  and   Wakebridge    impaling   Erm.,  on  a   chief,  gu.,  three 
bezants  (Okeover).J 

12.  Pole  and  Wakebridge  impaling  Babington. 

13.  Pole  and  Wakebridge  impaling  Ferrers. 

"These  three  escochions  (speaking  of  the  three  last)  belonged  to  the  younger 
famelie  of  the  Poles,  who  married  the  daughter  and  heyr  of  Wakburge,  of  the 
mannor  of  Wakeburge  in  the  parrishe,  build  by  Sir  William  Wakeburge,  one  of 
the  Justices  of  the  Banche,§  and  was  a  great  benefactor  to  the  Church  of  Creech 
as  by  his  Armes  soe  often  sett  up  in  the  Church.  He  also  builded  a  fyne  chapell 
at  Wakeburg,  garnishing  with!  orgayne  and  other  costly  devises." 

Wyrley  also  makes  mention  of  memorial  windows  and  of  a  tomb 

*Harl.  MSS.,6592,  f.  88. 

t  In  Nichols'  Collectanea  these  arms  are  here  assigned  to  Fitz  Ralph.  They  are 
those  usually  given  to  Musard,  but  it  is  there  stated  (vol.  i.,  p.  51)  that  no  early 
instance  has  yet  been  met  with  of  the  right  of  Musard  to  those  arms. 

J  John  Pole,  of  Hartiugton,  who  died  1524,  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Humphrey 
Okeover. 

§  So  that  if  the  effigy  is  in  legal  costume,  it  may  still  be  claimed  for  Sir  William  de 
Wakebridge. 


CRICH.  63 

to  John  Clay  and  his   two  wives,  which  was    an    earlier    one    than 
that  now  extant  in  the  chancel : — 

"  Tow  fayr  monimentes  in  the  glasse  wroughte  in  their  vestiraentes  with  the 
Armes  of  Fretsvile,  wrytten  under  thus — '  Gervase  ....  is  Aneure  ....  pri  et 
Dur  Armedel'  ....  Also  on  a  monument: — '  Hie  jacent  corpora  Johanis  Clay 
et  Maries  primes  uxoris  quondam  uxor  Nicholai  Charnels  de  Suarston,  et  Marias 
qua  relictce  Germani  Pole  de  Wakburge,  filia  Edwardi  Ferrers  de  Tamworth.'" 

Some  notes  taken  ahout  1780  show  that  the  only  coats  then 
remaining  were  No.  7  in  the  middle  window  of  the  north  aisle, 
No.  2  in  the  east  window  of  the  south  aisle,  and  No  8  in  the  east 
chancel  window.  No.  2  is  the  solitary  coat  now  remaining,  but 
there  are  a  few  fragments  of  old  glass  in  the  tracery  of  the  fourth 
chancel  window,  a  small  crowned  head  being  distinguishable. 

In  the  time  of  Bassano  and  also  of  Eeynolds,  there  were  some 
remains  of  a  parclose  or  screen,  shutting  off  the  east  end  of  the 
north  aisle.  The  rood  screen,  of  Perpendicular  date,  across  the 
chancel  arch,  was  ruthlessly  turned  out,  together  with  some  well 
carved  spandrels  of  the  roof,  at  the  injudicious  "restoration"  of 
1861.  Fortunately  the  Eev.  W.  Hope,  vicar  of  S.  Peter's,  Derby, 
caught  sight  of  this  fine  screen  in  a  timber  merchant's  yard,  and 
rescued  it  from  demolition,  and  most  happily  set  it  up  as  a  screen 
across  the  chancel  arch  of  S.  Peter's,  where  it  may  now  be  seen. 
In  the  vestry  is  a  beam,  removed  from  the  old  roof,  on  which  are 
recorded  the  names  of : — 

"  Thomas  Shelmerdine,  minister,  1640. 

John  Haslam       ) 

John  Smith         |  Churchwardens." 

There  is  also  in  the  vestry  an  old  oak  seat,  handsomely  carved, 
and  of  the  Perpendicular  period.  The  ends,  of  considerable 
elevation,  terminate  in  "  poppy-heads,"  on  both  sides  of  which  are 
carved  human  faces.  Unless  we  are  wrongly  informed,  one  if  not 
more  of  these  fine  old  church  seats  found  their  way  to  the  house 
at  Chase  Cliff,  during  the  "restoration."  If  this  is  the  case,  we 
venture  to  hope  that  they  may  be  restored  to  God's  House. 

There  is  a  ring  of  fine  bells  in  the  tower  : — 

I.  "John  Dod,  John  Feepound  C:  Wardens,  MDCCXXI." 

II.  "Feare  God  honor   the   King,  1671,"  and   the  bell   mark    of 
George  Oldfield. 

III.  "  I.    Saxton,    G.    Silvester,    Churchwardens.      I.    Goddard, 
Minister,  1771." 


64  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

IV.  "  Hec  Campana  sacra   fiat    Trinitate   beata,  1616,"    in  Lom- 
bardic  capitals,  highly  decorated.* 

V.  "All  men  that  heare  my  mornfull  sound 

Repent  before  you  lye  in  ground.     1626." 

There  is  also  above  these  a  small  bell,  that  goes  by  the  name 
of  the  parson's  bell  There  is  no  inscription  or  date  upon  it,  and 
it  may  possibly  be  the  old  sanctus  bell  that  used  to  hang  over  the 
east  gable  of  the  nave. 

From  some  further  notes  of  Eeynolds,  we  learn  that  the  3rd 
bell  (or,  as  he  says,  the  4th),  which  was  broken  and  sent  to 
Eotherham  to  be  recast,  on  Saturday,  March  30th,  1771,  formerly 
bore  "  Jesus  be  oure  spede  B.  E.  B.  W.,"  the  founder's  mark  of 
Henry  Oldfield,  and  the  date  1583  circumscribed  within  a  small 
circle.  He  also  states,  in  a  note  dated  1770,  that  there  were  only 
four  bells  in  the  steeple  up  to  1721,  when  the  first  one  was  cast.f 

The  same  antiquary  tells  us,  in  another  place,  that : — 

"  The  weathercock  upon  Crich  Church  Spire  was  bought  of  one  Birds  of 
Mansfield  in  the  year  1692  by  John  Beardah  sen1  and  Thomas  Booner,  church- 
wardens. It  cost  28  shillings  and  12  shillings  guilding,  so  that  it  lay  the  parish 
in  40  shillings.  A.D.  1769,  this  weathercock  was  taken  down  and  fresh  gilt  by 
David  Woodhouse  and  George  Bacon  junr,  churchwardens.  The  steeple  and  spire 
were  also  pointed  at  the  same  time.  The  old  custom  at  Crich  church  of  ringing 
the  sermon  bell  after  chiming  all  the  bells  was  disused  in  1769,  and  the  method 
of  ringing  the  sermon  bell  first,  then  chiming  all  the  bells,  and  lastly  ringing 
the  small  bell  called  the  Ting-Tang  (which  last  had  been  dumb,  viz.  had  no 
clapper  in  it  for  70  years)  was  introduced.  At  the  time  were  John  Walker,  vicar, 
Joseph  Goddard,  curate,  and  the  above  named  Woodhouse  and  Bacon,  church- 
wardens. The  inside  of  the  church  was  whitewashed  at  the  same  time."J 

Some  further  notes  relative  to  this  church,  included  in  the 
Wolley  MSS.,  and  taken  about  the  beginning  of  the  century, 
mention  that  "  the  pillars  continue  to  be  hung  with  garlands  in 
honor  of  young  maidens  who  died  unmarried, "§  so  that  Crich  may 
be  added  to  the  list  of  those  Derbyshire  churches  where  this 
interesting  custom  used  to  prevail. || 

In  the  letters  from  the  incumbents  in  1831,"*  on  which  the 
Parliamentary  Eeturn  as  to  parochial  registers  is  based,  we  find 
that  the  communication  from  Crich  states  that  the  earliest  register, 

*  For  illustrations  of  the  lettering,  etc.,  of  this  bell,  see  the  Reliquary,  vol.  xiii., 
p.  231. 

t  Add.  MSS.,  6,670,  ff.  411,  412. 

I  Add.  MSS.,  6,707,  f.  18. 

§  Add.  MSS.  6668,  f.  449. 

|j  On  the  subject  of  Funeral  Garlands,  see  the  accounts  of  the  churches  of  South 
Winfield,  Ashford,  and  Matlock,  in  vols.  i.  and  ii.  of  Churches  of  Derbyshire. 

**  Add.  MSS  ,  9,355. 


CUICH.  65 

from  1617  to  1640,  is  "  totally  useless  and  illegible."  Though  this 
is  far  too  sweeping  a  statement,  still  it  must  be  owned  that  the 
volume  is  much  damaged,  badly  written,  and  in  a  few  places  quite 
illegible.  There  are  defects  in  the  subsequent  registers  from  June 
7th,  1708,  to  March  20th,  1712,  and  again  from  March  4th,  1768, 
to  September  loth,  1764.  Eeynolds'  notes  (1757)  make  mention 
of  an  earlier  register  book  than  the  one  beginning  in  1617,  and  it 
was  our  good  fortune,  in  the  summer  of  1877,  to  be  instrumental 
in  its  recovery,  after  an  absence  from  the  parish  of  about  a 
century.  Mr.  Hoveden,  a  gentleman  resident  at  Croydon,  purchased 
at  a  London  auction,  in  a  lot  of  old  papers,  a  portion  of  a 
parochial  register.  It  is  a  quarto  paper  book,  extending  from  1564  to 
1593,  with  several  leaves  missing  at  the  commencement,  and  no 
name  of  parish  or  minister  by  which  to  identify.  The  cover  is  of 
parchment,  and  has  been  part  of  an  old  Breviary.  Suspecting  it 
to  be  of  Derbyshire  origin,  Mr.  Hoveden  placed  it  in  our  hands 
for  identification,  and  the  following  entries,  inter  alia,  convincing 
us  that  it  pertained  to  Crich,  the  owner  was  good  enough,  in  the 
true  antiquarian  spirit,  to  restore  it  to  the  parish  chest : — 

"  Marmeduke  Babington  sepultus  fuit  decimo  septo  Januarii,  1587." 
"  Germanus   Poole    de    Wakebridge   sepultus    fuit   vicessimo   sexto    die    Aprilis, 
1588." 

"  Theophilus  Claye  sepiiltus  fuit  secundo  die  Marcii,  1590." 
"  Petrus  Poole  sepultus  fuit  vicessimo  die  Septembris,  1590." 


In  the  previous  account  of  Crich  we  have  chronicled  the  fact 
that  Sir  William  de  Wakebridge  built  a  chapel  at  his  manor  house 
at  WAKEBRIDGE,  garnished  with  an  "  orgayne  and  other  costly 
devises."  We  are  also  able  to  give  an  inventory  of  the  goods  of 
this  chapel,  as  given  in  the  Crich  Chartulary,  under  date  1368 : — 

"Memorandum  de  ornamentis  capelle  de  Wakebrugge.  In  primis  j  haire,  Et 
ij  alterclothez  cum  frontellis  bonis,  Et  j  tapeta  ad  pendeudum  ante  altare,  Et 
ij  peria  de  Ridel*  cum  apparat',  Et  ij  vestimenta  festivales,  Et  j  vestimeiitum 
feriale,  Et  j  calix,  Et  j  missale,  Et  alind  missale  vetus,  Et  j  portiforium,  Et 
j  psalterium,  Et  iij  coporalia  cum  cases,  Et  j  tabula  depicta,  Et  j  portiforium 
quo  dominus  utitur,  Et  j  mauuale  de  usu  Lincolnie."f 

*  The  Eidels  (Fr.  rideaux)  were  the  curtains  which  fenced  in  the  back  and  sides  of 
the  altar. 

t  The  "  use  "  or  ritual  of  Lincoln  seems  to  have  generally  prevailed  in  the  diocese 
of  Coventry  and  Lichfield.  There  were  five  distinct  uses  in  England — York,  Lincoln, 
Hereford,  Bangor,  and  Salisbury.  That  of  Lincoln  prevailed  also  in  many  parts  of 
Scotland.  The  Sarum  use  was  prescribed  for  the  whole  province  of  Canterbury  in 
1541,  hence  arose  the  general  adoption  of  red  for  altar  cloths,  as  red  was  the  ordinary 
colour  of  the  Salisbury  rite. 
6 


66  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

On  the  purchase  of  this  estate  by  Peter  Nightingale  in  1771,  the 
fine  old  mansion,  that  had  heen  for  so  many  centuries  the  seat  of 
the  families  of  Wakehridge  and  Pole,  was  pulled  down.  The 
chapel,  which  was  a  detached  building,  but  had  long  been  dese- 
crated for  farm  purposes,  did  not  then  share  the  fate  of  the  hall. 
A  writer  of  the  year  1818,  says  :  — "  The  east  window  still  remains 
in  the  end  of  a  barn,  at  the  back  of  the  house,  which  is  the  only 
discernible  indication  of  the  chapel."*  Some  thirty  years  ago,  the 
remains  of  this  chapel  were  still  further  modernised,  and  the 
window  mentioned  by  Mr.  Moore,  taken  out,  and  removed  to  the 
grounds  of  Mr.  Nightingale's  residence  at  Lea.  That  portion  of 
the  large  barn  which  now  stands  on  the  site  of  the  chapel,  has  no 
trace  of  antiquity,  or  any  ecclesiastical  feature  about  it.  The 
extensive  foundations  of  the  old  manor  house,  can  be  traced  under 
the  sward,  behind  the  present  farm-house.  In  the  kitchen  of  the 
house  is  an  old  oak  door,  handsomely  panelled  with  the  linen-fold 
pattern.  This  is  apparently  the  only  relic  of  the  departed  grandeur 
of  Wakebridge. 

N.B. — Since  the  previous  sheet  passed  through  the  press,  we 
have  found  an  institution  to  Crich  vicarage  in  the  Lichfield 
registers,  under  the  year  1629.  Owing  probably  to  it  being  spelt 
"  Croich,"  it  had  escaped  our  previous  notice.  It  is  the  institution 
of  Thomas  Shelmerdine,  on  the  death  of  Edwin  Woolley,  and  John 
Claye  was  then  patron.  This  modifies  the  statements  previously 
made,  with  respect  to  the  patronage,  in  one  or  two  particulars. 

*  Moore's  Picturesque  Excursions,  p.  70. 


II  Sainfs. 


<I>uflrn5oiu 


IJEFORE  we  particularise  with  respect  to  the  different 
churches  of  Derby,  it  will  be  necessary  to  make  one  or 
two  introductory  remarks  as  to  the  number  and  names 
of  those  churches.  In  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  Derby 
must  have  been  an  important  centre  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Church. 
There  were  then  within  the  borough,  as  we  learn  from  the 
Domesday  Survey,  no  less  than  six  churches.  Two  of  these,  which 
were  on  the  royal  demesne,  were  of  a  colleg'iate  character,  the  one 
served  by  seven  clerks,  who  held  two  carucates  of  land  in  (Little) 
Chester,  and  the  other  by  six  clerks,  who  held  nine  oxgangs  of 
land  in  Cornun  (Quarndou)  and  Detton.*  The  four  other  churches 
were  held  respectively  by  Tochi,  Leuric,  Brun,  and  Coin. 

At  the  time  of  the  compilation  of  the  Domesday  Survey  (1086), 
these  four,  churches  were  the  property  of  Geoffrey  Alselin,  Ralph 
Fitzherbert,  Norman  de  Lincolia,  and  Edric,  the  son  of  Coin.  It 
was  also  there  recorded  that — "  Osmer,  the  priest,  has  one  oxgang 
of  laud  with  sac  and  soc ;  and  Godwin,  the  priest,  in  like  manner, 
one  oxgaug  of  land." 

The  next  mention  of  a  Derby  church  occurs  in  connection  with 
the  abbey  of  Burton.  A  bull  of  Pope  Lucius  III.,  dated  1185, 
confirming  grants  to  that  abbey,  makes  mention  of  the  gift  by 
William  the  Conqueror  of  the  church  of  S.  Mary  in  Derby,  with 
two  mills,  and  land  in  that  town.  The  chronicle  of  the  Burton 

*  We  believe  the  prefix  of  the  "  D  "  to  this  place-name  to  be  an  error  of  the 
Norman  scribe,  and  that  it  is  intended  for  Eaton,  i.e.  Little  Eaton.  At  all  events, 
lands  at  Little  Eaton,  that  had  pertained  to  the  royal  demesnes,  were  attached  to  one 
of  the  Derby  churches  early  in  the  twelfth  century,  and  it  would  be  strange  if  all 
reference  to  them,  was  omitted  from  the  Survey. 


70  DKEBYSIIIKE    CHURCHES. 

monks  enables  us  to  say  that  this  gift  was  made  prior  to  the  year 
1085,  for  it  took  place  when  Leuricus,  who  died  in  that  year,  was 
abhot.  The  property  is  therein  described  as  the  church  of  S. 
Mary  in  Derby,  with  its  appurtenances,  viz.  the  sites  of  two  mills, 
one  called  Cope-castlemyln,  with  an  island  of  the  same  name,  and 
the  other  Schirismylne,  cum  ceteris  terris.  The  abbey  also  at  the 
same  time  received  twelve  acres  of  meadow,  cum  ceteris  consitetudinihns 
in  Walwikstrete  (Wardwick),  in  compensation  for  other  lands  that 
the  king  took  of  the  abbey.* 

The  six  Derby  churches  mentioned  in  the  Domesday  Survey 
were  (we  have  no  doubt)  All  Saints,  S.  Alkmund,  S.  Mary,  S. 
Werburgh,  S.  Peter,  and  S.  Michael.  The  notion,  favoured  by 
several  Derby  writers,  that  All  Saints'  was  formerly  known  as  S. 
Mary's,  seems  to  us  untenable,  and  certainly  has  no  documentary 
evidence  to  uphold  it.  On  the  other  hand,  we  know  that  All 
Saints'  was  thus  styled  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  The 
churches  of  S.  James  or  S.  Helen  have  also  been  suggested  to 
make  up  the  complement  of  six,  but,  as  we  hope  to  hereafter  show, 
when  writing  of  the  monastic  establishments  of  Derby,  neither  of 
these  conventual  churches  were  then  founded.  Of  the  church  of 
S.  Mary  we  know  but  little,  beyond  the  fact  of  its  gift  to  Burton. 
It  seems  to  have  speedily  fallen  to  decay,  probably  because  of  the 
insufficiency  of  its  endowments.  At  all  events,  neither  Burton  Abbey, 
nor  apparently  any  other  body,  possessed  it  in  the  thirteenth  century. 
The  third  chapter  of  the  old  chronicle  of  Dale  Abbey  says  (writing 
of  a  time  about  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century)  : — ' '  There 
was  a  baker  in  Derby  in  the  street  which  is  called  S.  Mary.  At 
that  period  S.  Mary's  was  a  large  parish  in  Derby,  and  had  under 
its  authority  the  church  of  Heanor,  and  also  a  chapel."t  William 
I.  had  included  in  his  grant  of  the  church  of  S.  Mary  to  Burton 
certain  lands  at  Heauor,  and  hence  arose  the  subsidiary  position  of 
the  church  at  Heanor  to  that  at  Derby.  Beyond  this  somewhat 
vague  reference,  we  can  glean  nothing  respecting  S.  Mary's.  Pro- 
bably it  stood  at  the  opposite  end  of  S.  Mary's  Gate  to  All  Saints'. 
The  parish  seems  to  have  been  absorbed  into  that  of  All  Saints' 
and  S.  Alkmuud's,  as  we  judge  from  the  fact  that  the  dean 
of  Lincoln  owned  the  Castle  and  Shire  mills  of  Derby  in  the 
thirteenth  century.  Richard  Robynson,  by  will  dated  October  17th, 
1518,  bequeaths — "to  oure  lady  stondyng  in  the  chapell  in  sent 

*  Diifrdale'fl  Monasticon,  vol.  i.,  p.  271-2. 
t  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  ii.,  p.  617. 


ALL    SAINTS.  71 

Mary  gate  xij  to  by  her  a  kerchief,"  i.e.,  a  veil  to  deck  the  image 
of  the  Virgin.*  He  was  of  the  parish  of  All  Hallows,  aud  buried 
in  that  church.  Possibly  "the  chapell  in  sent  Mary  gate"  was 
the  remains  of,  or  at  all  events  on  the  site  of  the  old  church  of 
S.  Mary. 


The  church  of  All  Saints,  or  All  Hallows,  was  certainly  one  of 
the  two  collegiate  churches  of  Derby  in  the  time  of  Edward  the 
Confessor,  probably  the  one  with  seven  clerks  attached  to  it.  This 
church  was  given  by  Henry  I.,  together  with  that  of  Wirksworth, 
sometime  between  1100  and  1113,  to  God  and  the  church  of  S. 
Mary  at  Lincoln,  to  be  held  in  Piwbemlam,  together  with  all  the 
adjacent  rights.  The  charter  expresses  that  the  churches  should 
be  held  in  the  same  honourable  and  quiet  way  that  prevailed 
in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor  and  of  William  I.,  but 
this  does  not  seem  to  imply  that  they  had  formerly  pertained  to 
Lincom.f 

We  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  with  precision,  either  from 
the  Lincoln  muniments  or  elsewhere,  the  exact  nature  of  the 
control  originally  exercised  over  All  Saints'  by  the  cathedral  church 
of  Lincoln,  but  it  seems  that  the  chapter  of  that  city  appointed 
the  dean  of  All  Saints',  and  that  the  sub-dean  and  the  remaining 
six  prebends,  instead  of  being  co-opted  by  their  own  chapter, 
according  to  canon  law,  were  also  appointed  directly  by  the  dean 
and  chapter  of  Lincoln.  We  have,  too,  good  reasons  for  thinking 
that  the  position  of  dean  was  practically-  in  abeyance,  from  the 
fourteenth  century  downwards,  the  office  being  held  by  the  dean  of 
Lincoln.  At  all  events,  we  have  failed  to  find  any  mention  of  a 
dean  later  than  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and  various 
subsequent  conventions  were  concluded  in  the  name  of  and  under 
the  signature  of  the  sub-dean. 

Hugo,  the  founder  of  Darley  Abbey,  between  1161  and  1170,  is 
described  in  the  charter  as  "  Dean  of  Derby,"  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  this  means  that  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  collegiate 
clergy  of  All  Saints'.  The  Chartulary  of  the  abbey  also  makes 

*  Probate  Office,  Lichfield,  Wills  1516  Io26,  f.  19. 

t  Lincoln  Chapter  MSS.,  liegistrum  Antiquissium,  f.  6a — this  is  the  charter  given 
in  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.,  p.  264 ;  also  Decani  Chartularium,  f.  48,  etc.,  etc. 
Some  of  the  earliest  entries  relative  to  this  church  amongst  the  Lincoln  MSS. 
describe  it  as  All  Saints,  though  others  are  content  to  name  it  as  the  church  of  Derby 
being,  no  doubt,  the  one  of  fir.st  importance. 


72  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

mention  of   deans  of   the  name  of   Henry  and    Robert,  who  appear 
to  Lave  succeeded  Hugo  in  the  next  century.* 

In  1252  a  dispute  arose  between  the  Canons  of  All  Saints'  and 
the  abbey  of  Darley,  relative  to  tithes,  and  it  was  referred  "to  the 
Pope.  Innocent  IV.,  following  the  usual  precedent,  issued  a  bull, 
dated  at  Milan  on  the  4th  of  the  Nones  of  September,  in  the  9th 
year  of  his  consecration,  appointing  Giles,  archdeacon  of  Berkshire, 
to  act  as  arbitrator.  The  archdeacon,  having  summoned  the  repre- 
sentatives and  witnesses  of  both  parties  before  him,  gave  his 
decision  in  the  cathedral  of  S.  Frideswide,  at  Oxford,  on  the  day 
following  the  feast  of  S.  John-at-the-Latin-Gate,  1253.  The 
Canons  claimed,  in  the  name  of  the  churches  of  All  Saints  and 
S.  Alkmund,  that  the  abbey  should  be  compelled  to  pay  tithes  to 
them,  of  all  their  demesne  and  other  lands,  of  hay,  of  the  profits 
of  the  mills  and  fisheries,  and  of  all  other  titheable  articles  within 
the  limits  of  the  two  parishes.  They  stated  that  the  boundaries 
of  the  parishes  of  All  Saints  and  S.  Alkmund  were  conterminous 
with  the  royal  demesne,  that  the  abbey  of  Darley  was  erected  and 
lands  bestowed  upon  it  within  those  limits,  and  that  they  specially 
claimed  tithes  of  the  cultivated  land  called  Abbotsflat,  between 
Derby  and  the  abbey  on  the  west  side  of  the  Derwent,  and  of  the 
tilled  land  within  the  field  of  [Little]  Chester  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Derwent,  similarly  termed  Abbotsflat,  and  also  of  all  that  part 
of  the  pasture  of  King's  Mead  that  pertained  to  them.  The 
Canons  further  protested  that  the  monks  of  Darley  obtruded  them- 
selves into  their  churches,  where  they  celebrated  Mass,  heard 
confessions,  enjoined  penances,  performed  the  rites  of  sepulture, 
and  administered  blessed  bread,  holy  water,  the  Eucharist,  and 
extreme  unction,  not  only  to  their  own  servants,  but  to  certain 
others.  The  archdeacon,  associating  with  himself  in  his  judgment 
the  prior  of  Frideswide  and  John  the  Constable,  decided  very  con- 
clusively against  the  abbey,  ordering  the  monks  to  make  an  annual 
payment  of  not  less  than  one  or  more  than  two  marks  to  the 

*  Cott.  MSS.  Titus,  c.  ix.,  ff.  55b,  56,  56b,  etc.,  etc.  The  Chartulary  makes  inci- 
dental meution  of  Henry,  the  son  of  Dean  Hugo  ;  of  Peter  and  Walter,  the  sons  of 
Dean  Henry  ;  and  of  Robert,  Peter,  and  Matilda,  children  of  Dean  Robert.  Whether 
tliis  offspring  of  church  dignitaries  were  born  in  wedlock  or  not  is  not  stated,  but  we 
conclude  that  they  were  legally  begotten,  owing  to  the  distinct  way  in  which  their 
paternity  is  recognised  in  these  monastic  charters.  It  seems  probable  that  these 
deans  merely  entered  the  minor  sacerdotal  orders  in  order  to  qualify  themselves  in 
some  measure  for  the  holding  of  preferment,  but  did  not  actually  pass  into  the 
priesthood.  There  are  various  Canons  of  this  period  dealing  with  these  abuses,  and 
laying  down  that  only  those  who  serve  in  priests'  orders  should  for  the  future  be 
admitted  to  the  office  of  prior  or  dean. 


ALL    SAINTS.  73 

canons  in  recompense  for  the  loss  they  had  sustained,  and  a 
further  annual  sum  of  twenty  shillings  to  cover  the  cost  of  the 
suit.*  From  this  document  we  learn  that  S.  Alkmund's  was  the 
other  collegiate  church  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  and  that  it  was 
by  this  time  united  to  All  Saints'. 

The  Patent  Eolls,  53  Henry  III.,  afford  a  proof  of  the  dean 
of  Lincoln  being  regarded  as  dean,  or  at  all  events  as  the  persona 
of  All  Saints',  even  at  that  early  date,  for  the  Boll  describes  him 
as: — "  Decanus  Lincoln',  Persona  hujus  Ecclesia  pro  se  &  canonicis 
ejusdem  libere  capelle." 

In  the  year  1269,  the  conjoint  value  of  the  canonries  of  All 
Saints'  was  returned  at  sixty  marks."  The  Taxation  Roll  of  Pope 
Nicholas  IV.  (1291),  gives  the  annual  value  of  the  prebendal 
church  of  All  Saints  at  £25  6s.  8d.,  and  in  addition  the  dean  of 
Lincoln  is  credited  with  lands  and  rents  at  Little  Chester,  Little 
Eaton,  and  Quai-ndon,  to  the  annual  value  of  £17  14s.  8d.  An 
account  of  the  Lincoln  chapter  property  in  this  county,  taken  in 
1329,  when  Anthony  Beck  was  dean,  gives  the  united  annual  value 
of  their  property  in  Little  Eaton,  Quarndon,  and  Little  Chester, 
including  a  water-mill  and  a  quarry  at  the  first  named  place,  at 
£30  7s.  Id.J  In  the  year  1344,  the  same  dean  made  good  his 
claim  to  free  warren  and  other  manorial  rights  over  these  three 
estates,  which  had  been  granted  to  his  predecessor,  Philip  de 
Willoughby,  who  was  dean  from  1289  to  1305.  §  The  way  in 
which  the  chapter  of  Lincoln  lost  their  rights  of  free  warren  over 
these  and  other  Derbyshire  manors,  is  not  a  little  curious.  The 
deau  had,  in  his  manorial  court,  punished  offenders  against  the 
statute  whereby  the  price  of  bread  and  beer  was  fixed  (51  Henry 
III.)  by  fines,  whereas  the  proper  punishment  for  the  court  to 
inflict  was  either  by  pillory  or  turnbrell.||  The  imposing  of 
fines  was  held  to  be  an  infringement  of  the  royal  courts,  and  the 
dean  consequently  forfeited  his  rights  of  free  warren,  etc.,  to  ^he 
crown.** 

Little  Chester,  Little  Eaton,   and  Quarudou,   were  thus   undoubt- 


*  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus,  c.  ix.,  f.  75b. 

t  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  v. 

I  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  iii.,  f.  196— frflm  a  Eoll  penes  Franc.  Ferrand  Foljambe. 

S  Placita  de  Quo  Warranto,  p.  161. 

]|  By  the  tumbrell  in  this  place  is  meant  the  cucking-stool,  which  was  not  confined 
to  the  punishment  of  scolds,  as  is  often  stated.  "  The  tumbrell  was  a  punishment 
anciently  inflicted  upon  Brewers  and  Bakers  transgressing  the  laws,  who  were  there- 
upon in  such  a  stool  immerged  over  head  and  ears  in  stercore,  some  stinking  water." 
— Cowell's  Interpreter,  sub  voce. 

**  Pat,  Rot...  8  Eic.  II.,  2nd  part,  rnemb.  36. 


74  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

edly  held  by  the  dean  of  Lincoln  as  part  of  the  emoluments 
attaching  to  the  prebeiidal  church  of  All  Saints,  and  on  looking 
back  to  the  Domesday  Book,  it  would  appear  that  this  was  the 
united  property  of  the  two  churches  on  the  royal  demesne — All 
Saints'  and  S.  Alkmund's,  which  must  have  coalesced  as  early  as 
the  reign  of  Henry  III.  S.  Alkmund's,  to  which  parish  Little 
Eaton  pertains,  seems  to  have  been  granted  to  the  canons  as  a 
tributary  church,  and  served  by  them,  possessing  no  distinctive  rights 
of  its  own.  The  evidence  of  the  Hundred  Eolls,  circa  1276,  is 
conclusive  as  to  the  coalition  of  the  two.  It  is  therein  stated  that 
there  were  in  Derby,  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  two 
churches  on  the  King's  demesne,  the  one  having  seven  clerks  and 
lands  in  Little  Chester,  and  the  other  having  six  clerks  and  lands 
in  Quarndon  and  Eyton  (Little  Eaton),  and  that  the  dean  of 
Lincoln  then  held  these  manors,  and  gave  seven  prebends  to  the 
two  churches.* 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  there  was  considerable  dispute  relative 
to  the  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  over  All  Saints'.  In  the  sixth 
year  of  that  reign,  it  was  decided  that  the  church  of  All  Saints 
was  a  free  chapel  of  the  King,  exempt  from  all  ordinary  jurisdiction, 
and  immediately  subject  to  the  Pope.  It  was  specially  stated  to 
be  exempt  from  all  jurisdiction  of  the  archdeacon,  t  A  few  years 
later  the  Bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield  tried  to  enforce 
episcopal  control  over  the  Church,  asserting  that  he  and  his 
predecessors  had  always  exercised  it. 

He  was  summoned  to  the  court  of  the  King  at  Winchester,  for 
contempt  both  of  the  royal  authority  and  of  the  see  of  S.  Peter. 
The  dean  of  Lincoln,  who  appeared  in  defence  of  the  royal  rights, 
contended  that  the  church  had  been,  from  time  immemorial,  free 
from  all  ordinary  jurisdiction,  that  when  any  prebend  was  vacant 
he  (the  dean)  instituted  to  it,  that  he  held  visitations  there,  and 
was  the  ordinary  for  the  correcting  of  abuses.  The  jury  found 
that  the  Bishops  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield  (instancing  Alexander 
Stavenby,  1224-1240)  had  always  had  certain  jurisdiction  within 
All  Saints',  as  for  example  the  holding  of  ordinations,  the  taking 
of  synodals,  and  the  exercising  discipline  over  the  chaplains,  clergy, 
and  parishioners — but  that  the  dean,  of  Lincoln  had  the  power 
of  collating  the  prebendaries  and  instituting  whomsoever  he  wished 
without  any  presentation  to  the  Bishop. ;{; 

*  Rot.  Huudredorum,  4  Edw  I.,  Com.  Derb.,  No.  3,  2nd  part. 

t  Pat.  Rot.,  6  Edw.  I ,  meiiib.  17. 

;  Placita  13  and  14  Edw.  III.    rneiulj.  4.     See  Appendix,  No.  VI. 


ALL    SAINTS.  75 

This  decision  with  respect  to  the  "Free  Chapel"*  of  All  Saints 
seems  to  have  heen  carefully  carried  out.  There  is  not  a  single 
institution  to  All  Saints',  or  to  the  subject  church  of  S.  Alkmuud, 
to  be  found  in  the  episcopal  registers  at  Lichfield,  but  there  are 
several  instances  on  record  of  the  Bishops  exercising  other  jurisdic- 
tion. In  1301,  good  Bishop  Langton  held  an  ordination  in  the 
church  of  All  Saints,  at  which  a  large  number  of  candidates  were 
admitted  to  the  various  grades  of  the  sacerdotal  office. t  Several 
other  ordinations  were  subsequently  held  in  the  same  building  by 
the  Bishops  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield. 

The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.),  gives  the  clear  yearly 
value  of  this  Collegiate  church  at  £38  14s.  The  following  are 
the  particulars  : — 

Verus  valor  Eccl'ie  Collegiat'  Om'i'  S'tor'  Derb'  &  Prebendar'  ib'm. 

£          s.      d 

Oblacoes  debit'  ad  festum  Pashe  valent  coib'  amiis      ...  vj          o        o 

Decime  Agno'  &  lani  valent  coib'  annis         .....  x        o 

Decime  Granor'  et  feni  valent  coibus  annis  -----  xviij          o        o 

Oblacoes  ad  quatuor    anni  termiuos   vocat'  offryug  days  valent 

coib'  annis          ...-.-.-.-  xxvj    viij 

Decime  Canabi  lini  porcellor'  et  auc'       ......  xxo 

Pr'bend  de  Subdeac1  in  Parva  Cestrie     ------  iij        vj    viij 

D'ns  Will'mus  Browne  p'bend'  ibm          ------  xlo 

D'ns  Nicolaus  Smytb  p'bend'  ibm -  xiiij     iii. 

D'ns  Thomas  Lyllylow  p'bend'          --.....  iij          o        o 

D'ns  Will'mus  Cokland  p'bend'         -------  xiiij     iiij 

Magist'  Liderlaud  p'beud"           ---..-..  xiiij     iiij 

Dom  Eicus  West  p'bend'  xlv    viij 
Et  iude  resolut'  p'  prox'  &  siuag'  xviiji/. 

S'ma  clara   valor'  sup'  diet'         -        -    £xxxviij     xiiij        o 
X'rna  inde Ixxvij        v 

The  sub-dean  of  All  Saints'  also  received  an  annual  payment  of 
£11  from  Darley  Abbey,  according  to  an  agreement  made  in  the 
previous  century,  between  Eoger  Newton,  abbot,  and  John  Lowe, 
sub-dean.  From  the  Darley  Chartulary  we  find  that  this  payment 
was  a  composition  for  the  tithes  of  grain  on  lands  within  the 
parishes  of  All  Saints  and  S.  Alkmund,  held  by  the  abbey. 

The  following  is  the  entry  in  the  Chantry  Boll,  temp.  Edward 
VI.,  respecting  this  collegiate  church  and  the  chantries  thereto 
pertaining  : — 

*  Tbe  expression  "  Free  Chapel,"  usually  meant  that  the  church  thus  designated 
stood  on  the  royal  demesne,  and  was  therefore  free  from  ordinary  jurisdiction.  But 
in  process  of  time,  the  term  continued  to  be  applied  to  several  churches  and  chapels, 
that  had  rc.vorU-d  to  episcopal  control  and  were  in  no  sense  "peculiars." 

t  Churches  uf  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  p  8. 


76  DKKHYSHIKK    CHUKCHKS. 

'•  COLLEGE  OB  PAHSONAGE  of  All  Hallowes  in  Derbie  heyug  the  Kyngs  fire 
chapell  collegiated  there  and  founded  by  his  progenitors.  John  Makeworth,  dc.-uie 
of  Liucolue  made  an  ordinance  A°  Dom.  M.  iiijc  xxxij.  that  the  rnyiiysters  shulde 
daylye  praye  for  the  prosperous  estate  of  the  Kyng  xxxviij/i.  xiijs.  clere  value 
xl/i.  ix.  jd.  to  iij  Prystes  called  Curates  xvj/i.  eyther  of  them  cvjs.  viijd  to  ij 
Prystes  deacons  iiijZi.  and  j  clerke  deacon  to  eyther  xxvijs.  viijd.  for  wine  waxe 
breade  and  other  charges  in  the  quyre  Ixs.  and  the  residue  xvijZt.  ix*.  for  the 
lyvying  of  the  Deane  and  vj  prebeudaryes.  It  is  a  parishe  churche  where  there 
is  xvc  houselynge  people  of  whose  sowles  the  sub-dean  hath  care  and  charge.  It 
hath  a  mancyou  comenly  called  the  Colledge  or  Parsonage  and  is  charged  in  the 
rental  at  xiijs.  iiij^.  The  jewels  plate  ornaments  etc.  be  suche  as  have  been 
ordeyned  by  the  parishioners  and  mayntayued  by  the  same  to  serve  the  Cure 
there. 

"  THE  CHANTRYE  OF  OUR  LADY,  founded  by  the  deane  of  Lincolue  liijs.  iiijd. 
Clere  value  ciijs.  vj.*  Thos.  Rayner  chauutry  Pryst.  Stock  Ijs.  ijd. 

"THE  SERVICE  founded  by  Will.  Shore  for  a  pryst  at  S.  Nycholas  Alter 
iiijli.  ij<£.  Stock  lijs.  vjd. 

"  The  TRYNYTYE  GUYLDE  ordeyned  by  the  Baylyffs  and  Burgesses  of  the 
Borowe  for  a  pryst  to  saye  Masse  att  the  Trynyte  alter  at  v  of  the  clock  in  the 
mornyng  and  to  pray  for  the  lyves  and  sowles  of  all  the  brothers  and  systers  of 
the  guylde,  and  that  all  persons  travaylynge  by  the  daye  and  all  other  inhabitants 
myght  have  masse.  Clere  viijW.  xjs.  ijd.  Stock  Ixixs.  iiijcZ." 

The  college  was  dissolved  in  the  2nd  year  of  Edward  VI.,  aud 
its  estates  sold  to  Thomas  Smith  and  Henry  Newsam  for  the  sum 
of  £346  13s.  4d.  The  rental  of  the  collegiate  house  is  given  as 
10s.,  and  mention  is  also  made  of  the  rental  of  Is.  8d.  for  a 
meadow  in  the  town  of  Derby  "in  campo  called  Wardefeld."  This 
latter  item  is  an  additional  proof  of  the  endowments  of  the  old 
church  of  S.  Mary  having  come  into  the  hands  of  the  canons  of 
All  Saints',  for  a  meadow  by  the  Ward  wick  formed,  as  we  have 
already  seen,  part  of  the  estate  given  with  that  church  to  the 
abbey  of  Burton  by  the  Conqueror.  By  far  the  greater  part  of  the 
property  of  the  college,  indeed  the  whole  of  the  prebendal  farms, 
were  situated  in  Little  Chester.  The  farm  of  the  prebendary, 
lately  held  by  Magister  Eamsey,  clerk,  was  then  valued  at  13s.  4d., 
those  of  Magister  Elien  and  William  Tailor  at  a  like  sum  respec- 
tively, that  pertaining  to  Richard  Weste  at  46s.  8d.,  that  of  John 
Wilkes  at  40s.,  that  of  Thomas  Smythe  at  60s.,  and  that  pre- 
bendary called  "  le  Subdeans  prebend  or  Stone  prebend,"  66s.  8d. 
Other  rents  pertaining  to  the  sub-dean,  also  at  Little  Chester,  were 
valued  at  46s.  8d.  The  lead,  bells,  and  advowson  were  to  be 
excepted  from  this  purchase.  At  the  same  time,  the  tithes  of 
grain  of  the  town  of  Derby  that  had  belonged  to  the  abbey  of 
Darley  by  agreement  with  All  Saints',  were  sold  to  Eobert  Carre 

*  The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  values  this  chantry  at  4  marks  per  annum.  Henry 
Pott  was  then  chantry  priest.  It  is  described  as  possessed  of  a  mansion  and  other 
ruinous  houses. 


ALL    SAINTS.  77 

and  John  Almonde  for  £200,  being  at  the  rate  of  20  years' 
purchase.  Both  these  sums  were  pocketed  by  Edward  VI.,  or 
rather  by  his  advisers,  who  seem  to  have  made  no  provision 
whatever  for  the  spiritual  needs  of  Derby,  and  the  numerous 
officiating  priests  were  suddenly  stripped  of  their  stipends,  without 
any  compensation.* 

We  find,  however,  a  few  years  later,  that  Queen  Mary  provided 
pensions  for  the  dispossessed  prebendaries,  almost  exactly  corres- 
ponding to  their  previous  stipends.  Robert  Thacker,  the  late 
sub-dean,  received  £6  13s.  4d.,  and  the  ex-prebendaries,  William 
Tailor  14s.,  George  Glynne  14s.  4d.,  Richard  (?)  Wilkes  40s.,  and 
Thomas  S  my  the  60s.  Roger  Bartilmew,  late  chantry  priest  of  the 
Trinity  Guild,  also  received  66s.  8d.,  and  Lawrence  Sponer,  late 
priest  of  the  chantry  of  Our  Lady,  £5.t 

In  the  first  year  of  her  reign  Queen  Mary  did  somewhat  to 
repair  the  mischief  done  to  the  parishes  of  All  Saints  and  S. 
Alkmund,  that  had  formerly  been  served  by  the  canons.  So  far 
as  All  Saints'  was  concerned,  she  granted  the  farms  of  the  sub- 
deans  or  Stone-house  prebend,  two  of  the  small  prebends,  and 
other  alienated  property,  together  with  certain  premises  that  had 
belonged  to  S.  Mary's  chantry  and  to  the  Trinity  Guild,  to  the 
Derby  Corporation,  on  condition  that  the  Bailiffs  and  Burgesses 
should  find  two  priests  to  officiate  at  All  Saints',  and  that  two 
vicarages  should  be  for  them  instituted  in  the  said  church,  each 
endowed  with  a  house  and  an  annuity  of  17  6s.  8d.  The  clause 
relative  to  this  appointment  runs  as  follows : — 

"  And  further  we  will  for  ourselves  and  our  heirs  and  successors  ordain  and 
grant  that  in  the  church  of  All  Saints  there  shall  be  two  perpetual  vicars,  to  be 
instituted  and  endowed,  who  shall  have  perpetual  succession,  and  be  instead  of 
rectors  there,  and  maintain  hospitality  there,  and  have  cure  of  souls  of  the 
parishioners  there,  and  do  and  execute  all  other  things  which  are  known  to 
belong  to  the  office  of  rector  or  vicar."} 

Iii  1502  a  dispute  arose  between  one  William  Buckley  and  the 
Town  of  Derby,  respecting  certain  property  in  the  parishes  of  All 
Saints,  S.  Alkmund,  S.  Michael,  and  S.  Werburgh,  which 
Queen  Elizabeth  had  granted  him  by  letters  patent.  These  grants 
were  contested,  for  they  were  one  and  all  claimed  as  lands  or 
tenements  used  by  the  churchwardens  for  the  repairs  of  their 

*  Augmentation  Office  Miscellaneous  Books,  vol.  Ixvii.,  ff.  72  &  90. 

t  Add.  MSS.  8,102,  f.  49b.  This  is  the  interesting  Pension  Roll,  '2  and  3  Philip  and 
Mary,  which  we  give  in  extenso  in  the  Appendix. 

J  The  whole  of  this  long  grant  of  Queen  Mary  to  the  Corporation,  consisting  of  67 
clauses,  is  given  in  Simpson's  Derbyshire,  pp.  67-Ts. 


78  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

respective  churches.  The  Court  of  Exchequer  appointed  John 
Harpur,  Francis  Fitzherbert,  Henry  Duporte,  Lawrence  Wright, 
and  Robert  Newton  to  act  as  arbitrators,  and  some  interesting 
evidence  was  produced  before  them.  Amongst  the  witnesses,  on 
behalf  of  the  Bailiffs  and  Burgesses,  were  Robert  Stringer,  gentle- 
man, aged  60 — William  Both  am,  woollen-draper,  who  had  been 
twice  churchwarden  of  All  Saints' — John  Scattergood,  husbandman, 
of  Little  Chester,  who  had  been  four  times  churchwarden  of  S. 
Alkmund's,  aged  65 — John  Stafford,  shoemaker,  who  had  been 
churchwarden  of  S.  Werburgh's  forty  years  ago,  aged  72 — and 
Richard  Doughty,  aged  77.  The  last  named  deposed  that  "he 
doth  verie  well  remember  that  about  primo  or  secundo  Edwarde 
the  sixt  there  was  a  Commission  directed  to  Mr  Beaumont  then 
Mr  of  the  Rolls  of  the  Highe  Courte  of  Chauncerie  as  to  what 
lands,  tenements,  etc.,  belonged  to  the  King  by  the  Statute  made 
for  dissolving  of  Colleges,  hospitalls,  free  chappells,  and  chanteries." 
He  further  stated  that  all  the  churchwardens  and  sidesmen  of 
Derby  were  sworn  to  present  all  such  property  before  the  com- 
mission, and  that  the  commissioners  urged  him  and  his  fellows  to 
find  the  property  now  in  question  for  the  King.  But  he  then 
proved  before  the  commission,  by  the  testimony  of  ancient  men, 
that  it  had  been  long  used  simply  for  the  repair  of  the  respective 
fabrics.  Eventually  the  arbitrators  decided  most  thoroughly  against 
the  rapacity  of  the  Crown.  They  made  an  award  that  the  fee 
farm  of  two  cottages,  seven  gardens,  and  fourteen  acres  of  land  in 
Derby,  formerly  pertaining  to  the  prebends  of  All  Saints',  should 
pass  within  three  years  from  Queen  Elizabeth  to  the  Town  of 
Derby  ;  and  that  the  title  to  the  tithes  of  certain  church  lands  in 
Derby,  and  to  the  chapel  on  the  bridge,  granted  by  letters  patent 
to  William  Buckley,  was  not  a  good  title,  seeing  that  they  had 
been  enjoyed  by  the  town  for  the  space  of  six  or  seven  score 
years.  The  rest  of  the  award,  as  it  affected  the  other  parishes, 
was  of  the  same  character.* 

Most  of  the  church  lands  here  mentioned,  as  well  as  much  of 
those  granted  by  Queen  Mary,  were  subsequently  sold  by  the  parish 
of  All  Saints  from  time  to  time,  whenever  any  unusually  heavy 
expense  for  the  repair  of  the  fabric  fell  upon  them. 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners  of  1650  say  of  All  Saints' 
that  it  ''is  a  donation,  fourteenc  tlnrteene  foure  granted  by  Queene 

*  From  the  original  depositions  (in  a  damaged  and  imperfect  condition)  now  in  the 
pariah  chest  of  All  Saints'. 


ALL    SAINTS.  79 

Marye  and  payed  by  the  Corporation  for  the  maynteyning  of  two 
vicars."  But  we  have  failed  to  obtain  any  proof  that  the  Corpora- 
tion ever  did  maintain  two  vicars.  They  did,  however,  appoint 
one  minister  or  perpetual  curate,  giving  him  apparently  the  stipend 
intended  for  two,  and  showing  themselves  for  a  long  time  most 
jealous  of  any  recognition  of  episcopal  claims  to  institution.  The 
parish,  out  of  the  rates,  provided  in  addition  "  a  reader,"  whose 
duty  it  was  to  say  the  daily  morning  and  evening  prayers  com- 
manded by  the  Church,  and  it  was  not  until  the  year  1732  that 
this  wholesome  practice  was  abandoned.  When  the  Corporation 
Reform  Act  became  law  (1835),  it  was  no  longer  possible  for 
Corporations  to  retain  property  in  advowsons,  and  All  Saints' 
was  sold  to  the  Simeon  trustees. 

The   following    is   a   list   of  the   post-Reformation   incumbents   of 
All  Saints',  chiefly  taken  from   the  parochial  registers : — 

1664.  John  Houghton. 

1576.  Charles  Wood. 

1592.  Edward  Bennett. 

1609.  Richard  Kilbie. 

1617.  John  Chappell. 

1621.  Gervase  Hall. 

1632.  Edward  WiUimot,  D.D. 

1643.  Joseph  Swetnam.    Ejected  for  nonconformity.* 

1662.  John  Boylston,  D.D. 

1671.  Samuel  Willes  ;  prebendary  of  Bobenhull,  Lichfield,  1682 ;  died  1685. 

1690  (?).  Walter  Horton. 

1708  (?).  Samuel  Sturges. 

1719  (?).  Michael  Hutchinson,  D.D.  ;f  prebendary  of  Dasset-Parva,  Lichfield,  1703  ; 

rector   of    Cheadle,  Stafford;    also  vicar  of   Packington,  Leicester,   where  he 

was  buried  in  1730. 
1728.  William  Chambers. 

.  Joshua  Winter. 
1774.  Charles  Hope.     On  the  presentation  of  the  Mayor  and  Burgesses. I     Charles 

Hope  was  in  the  same    year  also  instituted  to  the  vicarage  of  S.  Michael's, 

and  S.  Werburgh's. 
1798.  Charles  Stead  Hope;    patrons,  the   Mayor   and   Burgesses.      "Licensed  to 

perform  the  office  of    chaplain,  presbiter,  and  minister    of   the    Free   Chapel 

or  parish  Church  of  All  Saints.  "§ 

*  "  He  was  not  formally  put  out  by  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  and  yet  really  he  was. 
For  foreseeing  the  commencement  of  that  Act  on  Bartholomew-Day,  he  thought  good 
to  make  a  mixtly  voluntary  Secession  sometime  before  its  taking  Place,  and  so  was 
not,  and  yet  was  expelled  by  it.  He  was  a  Man  very  well  qualify'd  to  fill  so  August  a 
Place  as  Alhallows  in  Derby.  A  very  able  Preacher;  and  great  Master  of  Language." 
— Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  164-5. 

f  We  are  not  sure  of  the  precise  date  of  the  institution  of  Dr.  Hutchinson  and  his 
two  predecessors ;  the  dates  given  are  the  earliest  mentions  of  the  names  that  we  can 
find  in  the  registers  or  parish  books.  Dr.  Hutchinson  resigned  the  living  of  Lilling- 
tou-Dayuell  in  1725,  so  it  is  probable  that  this  was  the  year  that  he  came  to  Derby. 

I  This  was  the  first  institution  or  licence  to  All  Saints',  made  by  the  Bishop.  See 
Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  xxiii.,  p.  65. 

§  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  xxvii. ,  p.  34. 


80  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1841 .  Edward  Lillingston  ;  patrons,  the  Simeon  trustees. 

1848.  David  Anderson;  patrons,  the  Simeon  trustees. 

1849.  Edward  Walwyn  Foley ;  patrons,  the  Simeon  trustees. 
1872.  Sholto  D.  C.  Douglas;  patrons,  the  Simeon  trustees. 

The  church  consists  of  a  remarkably  fine  tower  of  the  late 
Perpendicular  style,  and  a  modern  classical  body,  built  in  1723-5, 
and  forming  a  parallelogram,  with  an  interior  area  of  122  ft.  by 
75  ft.  That  which  Huttou  wrote  of  Derby  and  the  tower  of  All 
Saints',  nearly  a  hundred  years  ago,  is  still  true  : — "  The  stranger, 
who  wanders  through  Derby  in  quest  of  objects  worthy  of  remark, 
will  find  some  defects,  and  more  beauties  :  but  when  he  arrives 
at  All  Saints',  he  arrives  at  the  chief  excellence — the  pride  of  the 
place.  It  stands  as  a  prince  among  subjects ;  a  giant  among 
dwarfs.  Viewed  at  any  distance,  or  in  any  attitude,  the  associated 
ideas  of  taste,  grandeur,  and  beauty  fascinate  the  mind  ;  the  eye  is 
captivated,  and  continually  returns  to  its  object,  but  never  tires. 
Some  pride,  more  sense,  and  still  more  judgement  must  have 
combined  in  our  forefathers  in  the  construction  of  this  noble  tower  ; 
they  wrought,  and  we  enjoy  the  credit  of  their  labour."*  Tho 
tower  is  174  feet  high,  exclusive  of  the  pinnacles,  which  with 
their  vanes  measure  36  feet  from  the  roof.  It  is  about  50  feet 
square  at  the  base  and  40  feet  square  at  the  top.  Notwithstanding 
its  great  altitude  (considerably  surpassing  S.  Mary's,  Tauuton, 
Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  and  other  towers  of  the  same  class), 
it  was  originally  intended  to  have  been  surmounted  by  a  spire, 
or  rather  perhaps  by  a  lantern,  like  that  at  Boston.  At  least  so 
we  gather  from  an  inspection  of  the  bell-chamber,  or  upper 
storey  of  the  tower,  the  roof  of  which  is  partially  vaulted 
in  a  massive  manner  with  eight  rows  of  bold  moulding  protruding 
from  the  walls,  leaving  an  octagonal  opening  in  the  centre,  and 
having  four  squinches  or  small  arches  in  the  angles.  The  body 
of  the  tower  is  divided  into  three  stages  of  nearly  equal  height, 
by  two  bands  or  fascia  beautifully  moulded,  the  lower  with  octagon, 
and  the  upper  with  quatrefoil  tracery.  The  battlements,  and 
buttresses,  and  other  parts  of  the  tower,  are  also  richly  panelled 
with  tracery. 

An  inscription  upon  a  fascia  on  the  south  side  of  the  lower  stage 
of  the  tower,  gives  the  words  :  footing  -ffSitn  anil  ^Satt&tttg. 
This  inscription  was  restored  when  the  tower  was  repaired  in 
1845,  but  the  same  words,  in  older  orthography,  also  occur  on 

*  Button's  History  of  Derby,  p  146-7. 


ALL   SAINTS.  81 

the  north  side.  Tradition  says  that  the  tower,  up  to  that  height, 
was  huilt  at  the  expense  of  the  youth  of  both  sexes.  This  notion 
has  usually  been  ridiculed,  and  the  supposition  that  the  inscription 
is  the  beginning  of  a  quotation  from  Psalm  cxlviii.  generally 
accepted.  But  it  is  impossible  that  the  latter  surmise  can  be 
correct,  or  why  should  the  same  words  appear  on  two  sides  ? 
Moreover,  the  inscription  is  perfect  in  itself,  for  the  west  window 
interferes  with  any  continuation  on  that  side  of  the  tower,  and 
the  body  of  the  church  does  the  same  on  the  east.  On  the  whole, 
we  see  no  reason  to  doubt  the  truth  of  this  tradition,  and  it  is 
some  confirmation  to  find  that  the  bachelors  of  the  town  subse- 
quently subscribed  to  provide  one  of  the  bells. 

Various  conflicting  statements  have  been  made  with  respect  to 
the  exact  age  of  this  grand  tower,  some  assigning  it  to  as  late  a 
date  as  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary ;  but  the  truth  is  that  the 
process  of  building,  like  BO  many  of  the  best  masterpieces  of 
Gothic  art,  was  a  slow  one,  and  that  its  erection  extended  over  a 
considerable  period.  Fortunately  we  are  able  to  give  some  interest- 
ing documentary  evidence,  hitherto  unknown  and  unpublished,  on 
this  very  point.  From  the  first  volume  of  the  churchwardens' 
minute  books*  (which  actually  begin  in  the  year  1466),  we  gather 
that  the  works  of  the  tower  were  in  progress  in  the  second  year 
of  Henry  VIII.  (1510-11):— 

"  And  the  said  John  Newton  John  Elistone  and  Christopher  Thakkar  church- 
wardens are  discharged  of  y*  saide  xijs.  In  so  moche  they  be  charged  w'  anoy' 
boke  of  the  comptes  of  the  Werkes  of  the  Steple  that  yere  And  all  thynges 
charged  in  the  saide  accoinpte  and  accompted  of  the  werkes  of  the  steple  that 
yere  And  all  thynges  allowed  and  to  be  allowed.  The  sayde  Comptantes  were 
fonde  in  supplusage  xviijs.  vd.  Thys  Accompte  was  made  the  xiiij  day  of  Aprill 
the  thyrd  yere  of  Kyng  Henry  the  viij." 

The  next  entry  relative  to  the  tower  or  steeple,  occurs  some  ten 
years  later  : — 

"Anno  Dui  M°  DXX°. 

Md  y*  sr  George  bodon  p'ste  have  payed  to  William  baroe  and  thos 
oxle  to  the  bildyng  of  ye  steple,  Bog"  mor'  and  thos  Walkar  the  ballyves,  xij<i. 

Md  y*  sr  George  bodon  p'ste  have  payed  In  the  yeare  of  or  lorde 
jtoxxiij  to  John  david  to  the  byldyng  of  alhaloes  steple  -  -  -  .  xij<Z. 

Also  payed  by  the  said  sr  George  bouden  the  year  of  or  lorde  aroxxiiij 
to  the  churchwardens  to  ye  byldyng  of  the  steple  -  -  -  -  -  xijd. 

And  In  the  yere  of  or  lorde  MDXXV  payed  sr  George  bouden  p'ste  to 
the  churchwardyns  John  Sborariot  oy'  to  ye  bildyg  of  y*  steple  -  -  .  -  xii<2. 

*  The  churchwardens'  accounts  and  the  minute  books  of  All  Saints',  together  with 
numerous  other  papers  in  the  parish  chest,  are  of  such  exceptional  and  voluminous 
interest,  that  it  was  found  to  be  quite  impossible  to  do  more  than  give  some  brief 
extracts  from  them  in  this  work.  They  will,  however,  be  thoroughly  analysed  and 
annotated  in  a  monograph  on  this  church,  now  in  course  of  preparation. 
7 


82  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

And  In  the  yere  of  or  lorde  MDXXVJ  the  iijd  day  of  February  Syr  George 
bouden    p'ste    payed    to    the    churchwardyns     Thomas    Parre,     Roberts 
farynton,  and  oder  to  y6  bildyng  of  the  Steple  by   the  hands  of  the  pson 
of  alhaloes     ....------.---'  xijcZ. 

We  Roger  Hawe  and  Edward  Coke  w'od'  churchwardens  have 
Item    Rec'  by  the  hands  of    Thos   tulenson  of   Chaleston  executor  to  sr  George 
Boedon  of  y6  saide  Chaleston  xs.  Jid.  in  parte  of  paymente  for  hys  bequeth  Wiche 
ys  xls.  gyffen  by  hys  last  will  to  the  steple  of  All  sauctes  in  derby." 

From  the  accounts  of  the  year  1527,  it  appears  that  Kobert 
Liversage,  dyer,  of  S.  Peter's  parish,  who  two  years  after  founded 
an  important  charity,  was  also  a  munificent  benefactor  to  the 
steeple  of  All  Hallows  : — 

Anno  dni  M°  quingen0  xxvij0 

PAYMETES    As    FOLOETH    payed    to    John    Otes    fremason   fonde    of    charite    by 
Roberte  lyv'sege  of  Sancte  petr  parishe  Diar  to  y"  byldyng  of    Alhaloes  steple    In 
the  yer'  of  or  lorde  above  saide, 
In  pms  payed   to  the   said   mason   the   next  hole   weke   aftr   passion 

sonday  for  hys  wages    -        -        -        -.-        -        -        -        -        -      iijs.  iiijd!. 

It'  to  the  saide  mason  ye  weke  aftr  palme  sonday  -----  xx<£. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  maso'  the  weke  aftr  low  sonday  -        -        -        -          ijs.  xd. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  John  Otes  maso'  ye   thridde   weke    aft1    pasche 

for  hys  wages          -----------      iijs.  iiijd. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  mason  y6  forth  weke  aft*  pasche  for  hys  wages  iijs.  iiijd. 
It'm  payed  to  y6  saide  John  Otes  mason  the  fyfte  weke  aftr  pasche 

for  hys  wages  ....-.-----  iijs.  Hijd. 
Itm'  payed  to  the  saide  John  in  crosse  weke  for  hys  wages  -  -  -  iijs.  iiijd. 
It'  payed  to  saide  John  Otes  for  hys  wages  the  weke  aftr  thascencion 

day iijs.  iiijd. 

Itm'  petecost  weke        ........  xxd. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  mason  the  weke  aft1  trinite  sonday  -  -  -  iijs.  iiijd. 
It'  payed  to  ye  saide  maso'  the  weke  aftr  corps  Xti  day  -  .  -  ijs.  x<£. 
It'  payed  to  the  fore  saide  maso'  for  hys  wages  the  weke  aftr  the 

feste  of  pet1"  and  paule  .._...---      iijs.  iiij<i. 

It"  payed  to  the  fore   saide   John   Otes  for  hys   wages  the   weke  aftr 

Relike  sonday  --..--...--  iijs.  iiijd. 
It'  payed  to  the  saide  maso'  for  hys  wages  in  Sancte  James  weke  -  xxd!. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  John  Otes   the   mason  for  the  weke  next  aft1" 

James  day iijs.  iiijd. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  maso'  the  weke  before  or  lady  day  assupcon   for 

hys  wages  --_.-__.__-.  iijs.  iiijd. 
It'  payed  to  the  sayed  mason  by  ye  hade  of  mast,  pson  in  or  lady  day 

assupcon  weke  for  hys  wages       --------      iijs.  iiijd. 

It'  payed  to_  the  saide  mason  for  hys  wages  the  next  weke  aftr  or  lady 

day  assupcon  by  the  haude  of  the  saide  mr  pson     -  iijs.  iiijd. 

Itm'  payed  to  the  saide  mason  the  weke    aftr  sancte   bartolmewe  Day 

by  the  hands  of  thos  warde          --------      iijs.  iiijd. 

Sma  -        -        -    Ivijs.  iiijd. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  mason  by  the  hands  of  thos  Warde  the  satrday 

or  lady  Ae'  nativite  --.  .......  iijs.  iiijd. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  mason  by  the  sayde  thos  Warde  the  Satrday  in 
feste  of  exaltacon  of  y«  holy  cros  in  ye  name  and  for  ye  saide 
Robert  Lyversege iijs.  iiijd. 


ALL   SAINTS.  83 

Itm'  to  the  sayde   John   Otes   fremason  for   hys   wages  the  Saturday 

Sancte  Mathewe  day  by  the  haude  of  thos  "Warde  -  iijs.  iiij^. 

Itm'  payed  to  ye  saide  mason  for  hys  wages  the  safday  michaelmas 

even  by  the  hands  of  the  pson  of  Alhaloes iijs.  iiijd. 

Itm'  payed  to  ye  saide  mason  the  safday  aftr  Michaelmas  day  by  y6 

hands  of  ye  said  pson    ---------         .      iijs.  iiij^. 

It'  payed  to  the  saide  maso'  for  hys  wages  the  safday  Sancte  Edwarde 

eve  kyng  and  confessor  by  ye  hands  of  thos  Warde  -  iijs.  iiij<2. 

Itm'  payed  to  the  said  maso'  the  safday  aft1  Sancte  Luke  day  for 

hys  wages  by  the  hands  of  the  saide  thos  -----  iijs.  iiij^. 
It'  payed  to  the  saide  mason  the  safday  before  alholowe  day  for  hys 

wages  by  the  hands  of  they  thos         ........      iijs.  iiijd. 

Sm  xxvjs.  viijd. 
Sm  to  li3  solut'  pro  diet'  Roberto  Lyv'sege    iiijZi.  iiijs. 

Eeceyved  of  the  saide  Eoberte  lyv'sege  the  Wedynsday  nexte  befor'  palme 
sonday  the  xx  yer'  of  kynge  henry  the  viij  by  the  hands  of  mr  ballyve  warde 
And  Raufe  ley  the  saide  mr  lyv'sege  p'ste  xxijs.  viijd.  And  delyvered  to  the 
churchwardyns  Elsie  symson  John  steade  John  sowtar  and  Willm  yates  to  the 
byldyng  of  the  alhaloes  steple. 

Also  receyved  by  the  saide  churchwardyns  of  the  said  church  of  All  Saints 
upon  sancte  Anne  day  next  aff  the  saide  date  xxvjs.  viijd.  for  the  saide  Robert 
lyv'sege  to  the  byldyng  of  y«  saide  steple. 

The  nolle  Sm  gySen  to  the  saide  steple  by  the  saide  Robert  lyv'sege 
vli.  xiijs.  iiijd. 

Under  the  year  1532,  occur  the  following  entries,  which  we  have 
no  doubt  relate  to  efforts  made  in  other  parts  of  Derbyshire 
towards  obtaining  funds  for  the  completion  of  the  tower : — 

"  The  Aell  of  Chaddesdyn. 

Made   by   Thos.   parker,    thos.   Hornby,   whose    sm   mounted  to    xxvM.    viijs.  vjd. 
thereof  spendeth  there  i  necessary  expences  xxxiiijs.  xd. 

The  Aell  at  BrayUsford. 

Made   by   Edmund    Tomer,  Ric.    plesley,  whoos  sm  mownteth   to   xjfo'.  iiis.  iiijd. 
The  sm  spended  there  xiiijs.  vd. 

The  Aell  made  at  Worsworth. 

Made  by  Xfor  Thakkar,  Wyllm  Seybmg,  whoos    sm  mowntith Spended  of   this 

same  sm  for  necessarys  xxviijs.  ijd." 

The  Church-Ale  of  our  ancestors  was  an  important  method  of 
raising  funds  for  church  expenses.  In  some  parishes  it  was  the 
habit  to  resort  to  one  or  more  of  these  entertainments  every  year 
(as  we  shall  see  in  our  subsequent  account  of  Ockbrook),  but  it  was 
also  usual  to  bring  them  into  operation  when  certain  extraordinary 
funds  were  required  for  church  repair.  Two  men  were  chosen  by 
the  parish  to  act  as  wardens  and  masters  of  the  feast.  It  was 
their  duty  to  collect  malt  for  brewing,  corn  for  baking,  and  any- 
thing for  the  purpose  of  the  entertainment  that  they  could  persuade 
the  householders  to  furnish.  "When  the  ale  was  brewed  and  the 
cakes  baked,  arrangements  were  made  to  provide  mystery-plays, 


84  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

morris-dancing,  cudgel-playing,  shooting  at  the  butts,  and  other 
such  like  sports  that  pertained  to  mediaeval  fairs.  All  the  comes- 
tibles, and  especially  the  ale,  were  sold  at  good  prices ;  charges 
were  made  for  the  sports,  and  contributions  invited  from  the 
country  gentlemen  and  others  who  might  visit  the  fair-ground  from 
curiosity  or  good-will.  Thus  handsome  sums  were  often  realised 
for  the  object  specified,  as  was  the  case  with  the  "  Aell  of 
Chaddesdyn."  The  church- ale  would,  no  doubt,  be  sometimes  abused 
for  purposes  of  dissipation,  but  it  hardly  becomes  us  to  wax 
indignant  with  it  as  an  unworthy  method  of  raising  funds,  when 
we  of  the  nineteenth  century  are  not  ashamed  to  resort  to  the 
church-bazaar,  with  its  refreshment  bar,  and  divers  forms  of 
amusement.  It  is  peculiarly  interesting  to  find  that  church-ales 
for  the  purpose  of  building  the  tower  of  All  Saints'  were  held  in 
different  parts  of  the  county  (of  which  the  three  given  above 
are  probably  only  instances  that  occurred  in  one  year  and 
were  accidentally  inserted  in  the  minute  book),  for  it  shows  that 
this  church  was  considered  to  be  the  concern  of  more  than  the 
mere  parish  or  borough.  Being  of  imposing  size,  most  richly 
furnished  with  all  the  ornaments  of  worship,  served  by  a  large 
coUege  of  priests  and  chantry  chaplains,  and  chosen  by  the  Bishop 
for  ordinations  and  other  important  functions,  it  is  not  surprising 
to  learn  the  collegiate  church  of  All  Hallows  was  regarded  some- 
what in  the  light  of  a  minster  for  all  Derbyshire. 

The  height  of  this  tower  has  rendered  the  lofty  pinnacles 
unusually  susceptible  to  strain  and  decay.  They  were  entirely 
renewed  in  1715  at  an  expense  of  £55,  and  again  in  1823  at  an 
expense  of  £118  19s.  6d.  The  smaller  intermediate  pinnacles  were 
renewed  in  1858,  and  as  we  write  (August,  1878)  the  large  south- 
east pinnacle  is  in  course  of  reconstruction.  The  tower  itself 
underwent  substantial,  and  on  the  whole  careful,  repair  and 
restoration  in  1845,  at  a  cost  of  £1,113  15s.  The  tower  contains 
a  fine  ring  of  ten  bells,  of  which  the  tenor  is  the  only  one  of 
mediaeval  date. 

I.  "  God  save   his    Church.      Fra.  Thacker,   J.  Ragg,  1678,"  and 
the    initials    "  W.  N."    for    William    Newcombe,    a    Leicester    bell- 
founder. 

II.  "God  save  his  church,  1687,  F.  Thackar,  G.  Saracole." 

III.  "Let  Darby  bee   ever   happy.      Nat   Prime,  Tho.  Chapman, 
Wardens,  1693." 

IV.  "Coelum  remuneret  benefactoribus  meis." 


ALL    SAINTS.  85 

V.  "  Batchelers  Bell,  1620,"  and   the   founder's   mark   of  George 
Oldfield. 

VI.  "  Hec   campana    sacra   fiat  Triuitata  beata,  1607."      On   the 
waist  these  initials  :— "I.  B.     E.  P.      H.  0.     H.  B.     G.  B.     T.  W." 

VII.  "  Non  nobis  Domine  non  nobis  sed  nomine  tuo  da  gloriarn, 
E.  W.    I.  S.,  1629,  Wardens,  G.  B." 

VIII  "God  save  the  Church,  1632." 

IX.  "  Glory  be  to  God  on  high,  1655,"  and   the   founder's   mark 
of  George  Oldfield. 

X.  "Hec  campana  sacra  fiat  Trinitate  beata." 

The  old  church  of  All  Saints  was  peculiarly  rich  in  church 
ornaments,  as  will  be  gathered  from  the  following  verbatim  inven- 
tory, which,  so  far  as  parish  churches  are  concerned,  is  unique 
both  for  its  early  date  and  its  fulness  : — * 

LlBEB  COPOTUS  PTINE 

CAPELLE  REGIE  COLLEGIA 

STOB  IN  DEBBEIA. 

Memorand,  that  In  the  yr  of  or  Lorde  M  cccclxvj  introed'  George  Styholme  to 
be  clerke  In  the  saide  collegiate  chapelle  of  All  Saints  Then  beyiuge  churche 
wardens  Henry  cartewright  and  John  Mabley  wiche  saide  John  and  Henry 
delyvered  to  the  saide  George  to  Kepe  the  ornaments  And  joeles  of  the  saide 
collegiate  chapell  or  churche  with  all  charges  to  the  belongynge  duryng  all  the 
tyme  of  his  clerkeshype  As  here  aft1  foloethe. 

BOKES 

INPBIMIS  ij  missals  or  masbokes,  one  gospelar,  viij  Antiphonars,  ij  manuelles, 
iiij  processionars,  one  Collector,  iij  greles,  ij  ordinales  one  gudde  the  oder  of 
smalle  valore. 

JOCALIA 

Imprimis  iij  chaleses,  one  of  them  ye  sylver  and  gylte,  two  censars  of  sylver,  one 
sylver  shippe,  ij  lytel  sylver  spones,  one  pixe  of  sylver  and  gylte,  Another  lesse 
pixe  of  sylver  and  gylte,  hengyngs  on  the  hyghe  altar  that  mr  Heughe  Wil- 
loughby  Esquiar  boghte,  iiij  candilstykks  of  lattyn,  one  lesse  pere,  thoder  (the 

other)  more,  one  g of  lattyn,  ij  cristamatories  of  lattyn,  one 

thoder  more.      ITEM  iiij  crosses,  one  of  sylver  and  gylte,  Another  of   tymbur  and 

plate thrydde  of   lattyn  and  sylver,  The  forthe  ....  plated   sylver  and 

gylte  sette  with  stones lente  tyme.      ITEM  one  shryne  of  tyn and 

one  gylte,  And  one  payre  of  organes another  small  payre  of  orgones. 

OBNAMENTA  IBIDE. 

INPRIMIS  A  grene  sute  of  Vestementes  that  Mr  Mydylton  of  london  gaffe,  A 
chesabull,  ij  tyuacles,  iij  Albes,  iij  Amysses  with  stoles  and  fananxes  thereunto, 
one  Eede  Cope  to  the  same  sute.  ITEM  A  red  sute  next  to  the  beste,  A 
chesabull,  ij  albes,  iij  amyses,  ij  tenacles  with  stoles  and  faunauxes  to  the  .... 

Eede  purpull  sewte  with  iij  albes  iij  Ameses ij  tynaculs  and  fanancs  to 

them of   blak    sarsenett  yt  parson  bayns  gaff,  and   ij    tyuacles.      Item   an 

*  We  give  this  inventory  just  as  it  stands,  reserving  our  notes  for  the  monograph 
on  this  church.  Another  inventory  of  the  year  1483,  considerably  fuller  than  its 
predecessor,  and  several  of  a  later  date,  will  also  theu  be  given.  The  dotted  lines  in 
the  text  imply  places  where  the  edges  of  the  book  have  been  torn  away. 


86  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

olde  Rede  sute  with  iij  albes  iij  amyses  a  chesabull  ij  tenacles  with  stoles  and 
fanancs  to  them,  and  another  chesable  of  Rede  yt  the  syng  The  masse  in,  and 
a  chesabull  of  grene  yoloe  sylke. 

COPES. 

ITEM  a  blak  cope  of  wulsted  with  braunches  of  golde  opon  hytt,  ITEM  one  grene 
cope  with  lyons  of  golde  brotherde.  Item  one  Redde  cope,  And  another  Rede 
cope  for  worke  dayes,  And  one  Rede  purpulle  cope. 

ITEM  one  veyle  for  lente,  And  one  SepultP"  clothe,  with  one  crisonne  cloth  wroght 
with  ye  nylde  to  henge  att  the  hoele  of  ye  saide  sepulf  clothe. 

COEPOEAX  CASES. 

ITEM  a  corporax  case  of  blak  velvette  yt  Richard  Day  wyffe  gaffe. 
Alsoe  anoyther  corporax  case  of  clothe  of  golde  that  longley  wyffe  gaffe.      Item  a 
corporax  case  of  Rede  damask   and   blew,  Anoyther   of   blak    satten,  Anoyther  of 

Rede  sylke. 

PELOES. 

INPEIMIS  ij  peloes  of  clothe  golde  for  the  hye  altar,  Item  one  piloe  of  Rede  under 
the  gospelar,  and  Anoyther  Rede  piloe,  and  other  ij  piloes  for  weddyngs. 
ITEM  a  banare  clothe  of  sylke  havyng  opon  hyt  the  Image  of  the  assupcion  of 
or  lady  that  mr  John  Newton  gaffe. 

CKOSSE  STAVES. 

ITEM  one  crosse  staffe  of  tymbur  stiched  with  pocok  feders  and  golde  leddur 
Item  another  crosse  staffe  poynted  and  layde  with  silver  in  the  one  parte  thereof 
yt  the  sade  mr  John  Newton  gaffe. 

ITEM  one  crosse  of  sylver  and  gylte  waying  Ixxx  unces  and  iij  qrters  the  pryce 
thereof  xxijM.  that  was  boghte  when  Adam  prynce  and  Richerde  Standeley  were 
churchwardyns,  wich  was  in  ye  yere  of  or  Lorde  Mcccclxix. 

ITEM  one  grette  pare  candestykks  of  la in  the  chaunsell  boghte  in  Robert 

Somer  and  thomas  Knolles  dayes  ye  ....  of  the  iiij  ....  ij  of  viij. 
Item  another  payre  of  smaller  candelstikks  standyng  in  the  saide  quere. 
ITEM  ij  cushens  of  cowched  worke  that  mr  William  Wulsette  gaffe. 

THE    HYE   ALTAB. 

ITEM  to  the  hye  altar  belongeth   viij    altar   clothes,    ij    frontels   one  of  velvette, 

Anoyther  off  wulstyde,  ij  towels  of  twyll,  And  iij  of   playn  Irishe  clothe,  Item  ij 

paynted  clothes  att  the  hye  altar  ende,  Item   ij    clothes    before   the  hye  altar  one 

of  blew  and  yeloe,  Another  of  Rede,  Another  with  ye  iiij    evangelists    of    yt,  and 

another  with  the  beste  of  damaske  worke. 

Item  paynted  clothes  hengynge  above  the  stalls  in  the  quere,  one  of  stories  of  ye 

newe  lawe,  and  another  of  storyse  of  the  olde  lawe. 

Item  a  super  altare  that  thomas  Sharpuls  gaffe. 

Item  one  Resurrecton. 

MEMOBANDUM   that   in   the   yere   of    or  lorde    Meccclxvj    that   lawrece  Luchurche 

candelighter  and  thomas  leys  sonne  made  ye    accopte   to   the    saide    Henry  carte- 

wrighte  and  John  Makley  churchwardens  of   the  joels    and   ornaments    that  they 

had  in  kepyng  and  were  charged  with  as  hereafter  foloeth 

IXPBIMIS  xj  altar  clothes,  xj    towells   of   twill,  Item  vj  towells  of  playn,  iij  shets, 

and  one  cloth  to  the  fonte,  Item  one  Red  cov'  lede,  ITEM  all  the  clothes  yt  cover 

or  hylle  the  Images  in  lente,  Item  a  grete  clothe    that   coverethe  the  Rode,  Item 

one  blewe  clothe  that  hengs  before  Sancte  Caterne  tabull,    item   iij    pelose  to  the 

same off  blak  sylke  brotherde,  Another  of   purpull  sylke,  the  thrydde   of 

whyte  clothe  samplar  warke.  ITEM  one  altar  clothe  to  the  same  altar  made  with 
flow's  and  braunches  of  golde  opon  hytt,  and  another  paynted  clothe  yt  serves  for 
worke  dayes. 

ITEM  to  the  trinite  alter  yr  a  stened  cloth  with  flowers  opon  yt,  and  another 
paynted  clothe  for  worke  dayes,  and  one  frontelle  yt  hengs  under  the  trinite. 


ALL    SAINTS.  87 

ITEM  to  the  passyon  altar  belongeth  a  newe  started  clothe  with  flowers,  and  an 
old  paynted  clothe  for  worke  dayes. 

ITEM  vj  bannar  clothes,  ij  pendants  or  straymers,  and  vj  shaffetes  or  banar  polles 
to  them. 

IN  WAXE. 
INPEIMIS  Ix  serges*  more  or  lesse. 

SEPULCUR  SEKGBS. 

IXPRIMIS  one  sepulcur  serge  upholden  by  John  Hardyng,  and  after  npholden  and 
kepte  by  Eichard  Stayngar. 

ITEM  another  in  the   berying   of   William    Cowper   and    after   delyverde   to    conay 
barger  by  the  churchewardens,  and  after  hym  to  Edmunde  Bavlynson. 
ITEM  in  the  holding  of  John  Hoghton  and  after  delyverde  by  the  churchewardyns 
to  John  Newton. 

ITEM  another  sepulf  serge  in  the  kepying  of  Boberte  Weste  delyverde  to  thorns 
bradshae,  And  after  hym  to  Eicherde  hatfelde  by  Adam  prikprowde  and  Eicherd 
Standelay  churchwardyns,  Or  else  hadde  or  wolde  Elise  stable  that  weddet  thorns 
bradshawe  wyffe  take  yt  away  after  decesse  to  Sancte  Warbur  church  When  he 
dwelled  at  thabbe  barnes. 

ITEM  another  sepulf  serge  in  the  holdynge  of  John  Wodcok  that  nowe  Eicherde 
day  kepeth. 

ITEM  another  sepultr  serge  in  the  holdynge  of  John  day  that  now  Edmunde  dey 
kepeth. 

ITEM  another  in  the  holdyng  of  Eoberte  Shore  that  nowe  Edmuude  dey  sus- 
tenothe. 

ITEM  another  sepulf  serge  in  the  holdyng  of  Eoberte  Mundy,  And  after  in  the 
sustenyng  or  upholdyng  of  Eicherde  Mownforde. 

AND  LYKEWYSE  of  oder  sepult1'  serges  sustened  of    charite  by  oder   of   the  parishe 
whose  names  shulde  lykewyse  be  hed  expressed   botte   that   some  wyked  creature 
hath  bytte  the  lefe  furthe  of  the  olde  boke. 
ITEM  payed  for  washynge  of  all  clothes  to  the  alteres  to  thos  laurence  wyffe,  xijd. 

Almost  the  whole  of  the  ornaments  and  vestments  of  the  church 
would  doubtless  he  confiscated  to  the  crown  in  the  time  of  Edward 
VI.,  as  coming  within  the  statute  for  the  suppression  of  colleges, 
etc.,  but  in  the  second  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  1559-60,  we  find 
that  the  church  possessed  inter  alia,  "  a  brasse  crosse — an  holy 
water  can  of  brase — a  Cowpe  of  blak  Vellyvet — and  1  fyne  Vest- 
ment." In  the  following  year,  in  addition  to  the  above,  mention 
is  also  made  of  a  suit  of  vestments  of  black  velvet.  In  1563-4, 
an  albe  and  an  amice,  a  cope  of  black  velvet,  three  surplices,  and 
a  cope  of  blue  chamlet.  These  copes  are  mentioned  repeatedly  in 
subsequent  inventories,  and  an  albe  is  emunerated  year  by  year 
up  to  1576.f 

From  the  various  pre-Keformation  entries,  we  find  that  the  old 

*  Serges,  i.e.  large  tapers. 

t  Those  interested  in  the  "  Vestment  Controversy,"  will  find  herein  a  remarkable 
corroboration  of  the  common  sense  view  of  the  question,  viz.,  that  vestments  were 
certainly  not  prohibited  but  understood  to  be  sanctioned  by  the  "  Ornaments  Eubric," 
yet  that  in  course  of  time  their  use  gradually  died  out  in  almost  all  churches,  owing 
to  the  ascendancy  of  a  puritan  spirit,  and  the  great  cost  necessary  for  their  mainten- 
ance. It  will  be  noted  that  vestments  were  used  in  All  Saints'  for  more  than  a 
decade  after  the  alleged  ''  Advertisements  "  of  Privy  Council  fame. 


88  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

church  used  to  possess,  in  addition  to  the  the  high  altar,  altars 
to  Our  Lady,  to  Our  Lady  of  Pity,  to  the  Holy  Trinity,  to  the 
Holy  Eood,  and  to  SS.  Catharine,  Nicholas,  George,  Clement, 
Edmund,  and  John  the  Baptist.  The  churchwardens'  accounts  of 
a  later  date,  make  mention  of  the  bailiffs'  seat  used  by  the  recorder, 
of  the  beadswomen's  seat  in  the  chancel,  of  the  judges'  pew,  of  the 
batchelors'  pew,  of  "  a  longe  seat  for  maides,"  of  the  service  seat, 
of  a  pew  for  the  parson's  wife,  of  the  reading  desk,  and  of  the 
pulpit  with  an  hour-glass.  It  had  a  chancel  door,  north  door, 
south  door,  great  west  door,  and  consistory  door.  There  were 
three  aisles  of  equal  length,  extending  as  chancel  chapels  on  each 
side  of  the  central  quire.  There  was  a  south  porch,  with  a  sundial 
over  it,  and  pinnacles  both  on  the  porch  and  on  the  body  of  the 
church.  The  churchyard  was  planted  with  trees  and  had  large 
iron  gates,  but  was  also  traversed  by  a  public  paved  causeway, 
access  to  which  was  gained  by  a  turn-stile  at  each  end. 

Some  notes  taken  by  Elias  Ashmole  in  this  church,  on  August 
9th,  1662,*  make  mention  of  (in  addition  to  monuments  now 
extant)  the  following  inscription  on  an  alabaster  stone  at  the 
entrance  into  the  chancel :  — 

"  Beader  if  thou  desirous  be  to  know  whose  Corps  I  cover 
A  Merchant  borne  in  this  Towne,  to  God,  Church,  Poore  was  lover 
The  tyme  wch  here  on  Earth  he  spent  was  three  score  years  and  five 
Nyne  Children  God  unto  him  lent,  dead  six,  and  three  alive 
He  liv'd  belov'd,  and  lov'd  to  live  in  gentle  sort  and  fashion 
An  humble  minde  God  did  him  give  to  hate  vaine  ostentacon 
Reader  farewell  desire  I  can  thee  to  be  such  a  one 
In  lyfe  and  death  to  God  and  man  as  this  Paule  Ballidon. 
He  died  the  15th  day  of  Aug:  A°  dni.  1636. 

William,  John,  Nathaniell,  Andrew,  Paule,  Edward,  Jane,  Mary,  Paule." 

Another  alabaster  stone,  between  the  south  aisle  and  the  chancel, 
bore  : — 

"  Heere  lyeth  the  body  of  Edward  Beaumont  gent,  sometyme  Coroner  of  the 
County  of  Derby  who  had  two  wifes,  the  first  called  Eliz :  by  whome  he  had 
yssue  two  Sons  yet  living,  the  second  called  Alice  sometyme  wife  of  Humfry 
Sutton,  w011  Alice  caused  this  Monument  to  be  made,  the  said  Edward  deceased 
the  17th  day  of  Octob :  in  the  year  of  or  Lord  God  1581  and  the  said,  Alice 
deceased  the day  of 15  ..." 

Within  the  arch  at  the  foot  of  this  stone,  was  a  raised  tomb  of 
alabaster  to  Eichard  Fletcher,  thrice  bailiff  of  Derby,  who  died 
January  13th,  1606.  On  the  left  hand  of  the  east  window  of  the 
south  aisle  were  the  kneeling  effigies  of  a  man  and  woman  in 

*  Ashm.  MSS.,  854,  Bodleian  Library ;  also  see  Dugdale's  Visitation  of  1662-3,  at 
the  College  of  Arms. 


ALL    SAINTS.  89 

alabaster,  but  without  any  inscription.  On  the  wall  above 
the  figures  was  the  following  quartered  coat  :  —  (1)  or,  a  lion 
rampant  double-queued,  vert,  (2)  arg.,  a  chevron  between  three 
bugles,  sab.,  (3)  arg.,  a  chevron  between  three  crosses  patee,  sab., 
(4)  or,  a  chief,  gu.,  and  the  crest  of  a  demi-lion  double-queued, 
vert,  within  a  ducal  crown.  Also  another  crest  or  badge  near  by, 
described  as  "3  anuletts  ennected  or."  These  were  the  arms, 
quarterings,  and  crests  of  Button ;  viz.,  Button,  Bassett,  Morton, 
and  Worsley.*  Over  the  heads  of  the  man  and  woman  were  three 
coats,  representing  Sutton  impaling  [1]  or,  a  chief,  gu.,  over  all  a 
bend  engrailed,  sab.,  (Bridge),  [2]  vaire,  on  a  chief,  gu,,  an  escallop 
between  two  mullets,  or  (Barnard),  and  [3]  or,  a  lion  rampant,  sab., 
within  a  bordure  of  the  second  (Burnell).  Below  them  were  the 
same  three  impaled  coats,  as  well  as  three  additional  impalements 
of  Sutton,  viz.  :  [1]  or,  three  heads  of  garlick,  proper  (Needham), 
[2]  or,  two  bendlets,  sab.,  (Eadcliff),  and  [3]  quarterly  per  fesse 
indented,  or  and  az.,  a  bend,  gu.  (Blundeville). 

Foulk  Sutton,  second  son  of  Sutton,  of  Sutton  in  Cheshire, 
settled  at  Over-Haddon  in  this  county,  16  Henry  -VI.  He  married 
Bridget,  daughter  of  Alexander  Kadcliffe.  Their  son,  Eichard, 
married  the  daughter  of  Eichard  Needham,  and  had  by  her  Alan 
Sutton,  who  took  to  wife  Alice,  daughter  of  Bridge,  of  Bridgehall, 
co.  Cheshire.  They  had  one  son,  Thomas,  who  married  Agnes, 
daughter  of  Eichard  Barnard,  of  London,  by  whom  he  had  two 
sons,  George  Sutton,  of  Over-Haddon,  and  Thomas  Sutton,  of 
King's  Mead,  Derby.  Thomas  Sutton,  of  King's  Mead,  who  was 
84  years  old  at  the  Visitation  of  1611,  married  Constance,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Burnell,  by  Constance,  daughter  of  Edward  Blunde- 
ville. t  The  interesting  Sutton  monument  in  this  church,  now 
alas  !  no  more,  was  clearly  to  the  memory  of  Thomas  Sutton,  of 
King's  Mead,  and  Constance,  his  wife,  as  is  shown  by  the 
heraldry. 

The  gallery  at  the  west  end  of  the  church  was  inscribed : — 
"  This  frame  and  seates  was  erected  and  garnished  at  the  only 
proper  cost  and  charge  of  Thomas  Sutton,  of  Kings  Meade  neere 

*  "  It  was  agreed  at  a  Chapter  holden  the  23  of  October  1566  A°  D  Elizabeth® 
Reginse  That  it  shalbe  at  the  Choyce  of|  Thomas  Sutton  of  Overhaddon  in  Com. 
Derb  Esq  to  beare  for  his  Crest  theyre  lions  within  the  Crowne  as  being  descended 
from  Sutton  of  Sutton  nigh  Maxfield  or  els  on  a  torse  Argent  &  Azure  3  annuletts 
ennected  gould.  Dat.  26  Novembr  A°  4  E.  6."—  Visitation  of  Derby,  1611,  C.  4,  f.  5, 
College  of  Arms. 

t  Visitation  of  Derbii,  1611,  CoUege  of  Arms;  Harl.  MSS.,  1537,  f.  85b;  Egerton 
MSS.,  996,  f.  7b. 


90  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Derby  Esqr  An0  Dm  1614."  *  There  was  also  another  gallery,  in 
the  north  aisle,  which  bore  : — "  Mr  Paul  Ballidon  of  this  Towne 
of  Derby  Merchant  gave  this  Loft  in  the  yeare  of  or  Lord  God 
1636." 

Bassano's  church  notes,  taken  in  1710,  also  give  a  large  number 
of  seventeenth  century  inscriptions,  of  more  or  less  importance, 
which  have  since  disappeared. 

At  a  parish  meeting,  held  November  2nd,  1713,   it  was — 

"  Ordered  that  the  Churchwardens  of  this  parish  doe  waite  upon  Mr  Mayor  of 
this  Borough  and  desire  him  to  acquaint  the  Comon  Councell  of  this  Borrough 
that  All  Sts  Chancell  wch  they  ought  to  repare  is  much  out  of  repare  And  All  Sts 
Church  is  much  oute  of  repare  and  ought  to  be  repared  by  the  parishe  therefore 
desire  him  to  lett  us  know  whether  the  Corporacon  will  Joyue  wth  the  parishe  to 
obtaine  a  Briefe  from  the  Queene  for  repare  of  both  Church  and  Chancell." 

An  entry  of  July  9th,  1714,  certifies  that  the  desired  Brief  had 
been  obtained.  The  Brief  only  realised  some  £500 ;  but  before  this 
sum  could  be  utilised  for  repairs,  the  idea  was  started  of  pulling 
down  the  whole  of  the  old  fabric,  and  building  a  new  church. 

It  may  here  be  remarked  that  we  possess  no  accurate  plan  or 
information  respecting  the  body  of  the  old  church.  If  a  painting 
of  the  time  of  Charles  lit  can  be  trusted,  there  were  two  high 
pitched  gables  at  the  east  end,  pertaining  to  the  central  -chancel 
and  to  the  continuation  of  the  south  aisle,  or  quire  of  S.  Catharine. 
The  former  seems  to  be  lighted  by  a  wide  seven-light  Perpendi- 
cular window,  with  a  debased  square-headed  window  of  four  lights 
over  it,  and  the  latter  by  a  good  Decorated  window  of  six  lights. 
The  north  aisle  is  hid  from  view  ;  it  apparently  did  not  then 
possess  a  gable  of  its  own,  but  had  only  a  lean-to  roof. 

Dr.  Hutchinson — a  grandson  of  Bishop  Hacket,  and  Canon  of 
Lichfield — who  had  been  recently  elected  by  the  Corporation  as 
minister  of  All  Saints',  threw  himself  with  ardour  into  the  rebuild- 
ing scheme.  In  1719,  negotiations  were  entered  into  with  Mr. 
Smith,  a  builder,  of  Warwick,  for  taking  down  the  old  church  and 
building  a  new  one ;  but  the  conservative  instincts  of  the  majority 
of  the  parishioners  and  of  the  Corporation  prevailed,  and  Dr. 
Hutchinson  and  his  party  repeatedly  failed,  after  various  endea- 
vours, to  secure  the  acceptance  of  their  proposal.  The  Doctor  seems 


*  Bassano  adds  to  this  inscription — "  and  beautifyed  in  ye  yeare  1(598." 
f  We  have  not  seen  the  original,  which  is  described  by  Glover  as  being  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mr.  Harwood,  of  St.  Peter's  Street,  but  Mr.  Meynell  has  a  large  water- 
colour  copy  of  it.     A  small  engraving  from  this  painting  was  given  as  the  frontispiece 
to  Wilkius'  Walk  through  Derby,  1827. 


ALL   SAINTS.  91 

to  have  been  of  an  imperious  and  hasty  temper,  and,  irritated  with 
opposition,  most  unfortunately  determined  to  take  the  law  into 
his  own  hands.  On  the  night  of  February  18th,  1723,  the  Doctor 
admitted  into  the  church  a  large  body  of  workmen,  who,  by  the 
break  of  day,  had  demolished  the  interior  fittings,  thrown  over  the 
roofs,  and  were  expeditiously  at  work  in  levelling  the  fabric  itself. 
Thus  did  the  impetuosity  of  a  single  will  succeed  within  a  few 
hours  in  irretrievably  wrecking  the  outcome  of  centuries  of  pious 
toil.  An  apparently  hasty  vote  of  a  sparsely  attended  vestry  had 
been  secured  to  give  a  colour  of  legality  to  the  proceedings,  but  it 
was  in  direct  opposition  to  the  decision  of  the  Corporation,  who 
were  custodians  of  the  fabric  of  the  chancel,  which,  with  its  two 
side  quires,  seems  to  have  rivalled  the  nave  in  its  dimensions. 
The  town,  when  they  found  their  chancel  levelled  with  the 
ground,  wisely  determined  to  condone  the  rashness  of  the  act,  and 
to  make  the  best  of  their  misfortune. 

The  Doctor,  on  his  part,  having  by  stratagem  obtained  his 
way,  could  afford  to  be  magnanimous,  and  took  upon  himself  the 
responsibility  of  finding  the  money  for  the  new  church.  He  had 
circulars  printed,  with  a  copperplate  engraving  of  the  proposed 
building,  which  were  forwarded  to  all  the  principal  persons  of  the 
kingdom.  He  also  gave  himself  up  with  unwearied  assiduity  to  the 
personal  collection  of  subscriptions.  The  subscribers  included  men 
of  such  diverse  celebrity  as  Sir  Eobert  Walpole  and  Sir  Isaac 
Newton.  But  all  his  exertions  only  produced  a  little  over  £3,000, 
including  a  grant  of  £210  from  the  Corporation.  This,  in  addition 
to  the  Brief  money,  left  a  deficit  of  several  hundred  pounds,  and 
the  Doctor  decided  to  obtain  this  money  by  selling  forty  of  the 
principal  seats.  But  the  church  had  hitherto  been  unappropriated 
and  free  to  all  the  parishioners,  and  this  proposition  was  strenu- 
ously resisted.  At  last,  after  great  heat  had  been  engendered,  a 
compromise  was  arrived  at,  by  which  it  was  agreed  to  sell  by 
auction  eight  double  seats  in  the  best  part  of  the  church.  The 
sale  realised  .£475  13s.  Od.  The  difference  of  opinion  on  this  point 
between  Dr.  Hutchinson  and  the  Corporation  (supported  by  the 
majority  of  the  parishioners)  led  to  many  unseemly  disputes,  in 
which  the  former  showed  to  considerable  disadvantage.  At  last,  the 
Doctor  definitely  and  in  writing  resigned  his  living,  but,  on  the 
Corporation  electing  a  successor  (Rev.  W.  Chambers),  withdrew  his 
resignation.  The  affair  culminated  on  Sunday,  April  16fch,  1727, 


92  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

when  the  Mayor  (acting  on  legal  advice),  attended  by  the  Alder- 
men in  their  fur  gowns,  preceded  by  the  mace-bearer,  and  in  all 
the  paraphernalia  of  his  office,  attended  service  at  All  Saints',  and 
directed  Mr.  Chambers  to  preach — refusing  the  pulpit  to  the  Rev. 
H.  Cantrell,  the  vicar  of  S.  Alkmund's,  whom  Dr.  Hutchinson 
had  appointed  to  officiate  during  his  absence.  The  Mayor  was 
summoned  in  the  Ecclesiastical  Courts  for  brawling  ;  Dr.  Hutchiu- 
son  was  served  with  notice  of  ejectment  from  his  living;  the  Cor- 
poration withheld  his  stipend ;  fierce  party  pamphlets  were  dis- 
seminated on  one  side  and  the  other ;  and  the  whole  town  seems 
to  have  been  set  by  the  ears  by  this  unseemly  contest.  At 
last,  in  1728,  the  matter  was  settled  by  Dr.  Hutchinson  fulfilling 
his  repeatedly-made  engagement  to  resign,  and  the  town  had 
peace.* 

The  new  church  was  opened  November  25th,  1725.  The  design 
was  furnished  by  Mr.  Gibbs — the  architect  of  S.  Martin's,  London, 
and  of  the  Radcliffe  Library,  Oxford — for  which  he  was  paid  £25, 
and  the  builder  was  Mr.  Smith,  of  Warwick.  The  circular-headed 
windows  are  large  and  handsome  of  their  sort,  and  the  roof  is 
supported  by  five  columns  on  each  side.  When  first  the  new 
building  was  erected,  the  fine  arch  into  the  tower  and  the  west 
window  were  visible,  but  in  1732  they  were,  unhappily,  blocked  up 
by  a  large  west  gallery,  which  still  remains.  The  most  charac- 
teristic feature  of  the  church  was  the  beautifully-wrought  iron 
screen-work,  which  divided  off  the  east  end  of  the  building  into 
three  parts — that  in  the  centre  for  the  chancel  proper ;  that  on 
the  north  side  for  the  vestry  and  corporation  purposes  ;  and  that 
on  the  south  for  the  Cavendish  chapel.  This  was  the  work  of  an 
artist  named  Bake  well,  who  received  £181  from  Dr.  Hutchinson's 
fund,  as  well  as  some  JE15  as  the  balance  of  his  account  from 
subsequent  payments  made  out  of  the  rates.  The  parish  also  paid 
him  £50  for  the  western  gates  to  the  churchyard. t 


*  In  our  Subsequent  publication,  The  Chronicles  of  All  Saints',  we  hope  to  give 
many  particulars  relative  to  this  dispute,  as  much  light  will  thereby  be  thrown  on 
the  social  and  ecclesiastical  customs  of  Derby  at  that  period.  Hitherto,  our  Derby 
historians  have  followed  Hutton  in  pitying  Dr.  Hutchinson  for  the  envious  rancour 
shewn  him.  But  we  are  confident  that  if  any  one  was  to  impartially  go  through  the 
parish  papers  to  which  we  have  had  access,  and  read  the  pamphlets  on  one  side  and 
the  other,  his  opinion  would,  on  the  whole,  coincide  with  our  own,  viz.,  that  the 
Doctor  was  by  far  the  most  to  blame  for  his  thoroughly  disingenuous  treatment  of 
the  Corporation  from  first  to  last.  We  have  to  thank  Mr.  Godfrey  Meyiiell  for  the 
loan  of  copies  of  the  now  almost  unique  pamphlets  bearing  on  this  strife. 

t  These  gates  were,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  removed  during  the  recent  alterations,  and 
sold  by  auction. 


ALL    SAINTS.  93 

In  1873  the  church  was  entirely  re-seated,  re-painted,  and  other- 
wise "  beautified."  The  alterations  included  the  huilding  of  a  com- 
modious vestry  at  the  east  end  of  the  church,  and  the  utilising  for 
seats  of  the  two  sides  of  the  chancel.  But  this  plan  unfortunately 
involved  the  disturbance  and  loss  of  much  of  Bakewell's  excellent 
ironwork,*  and  the  rendering  ridiculous  of  the  elaborate  Cavendish 
monument.  A  little  more  ingenuity  might  have  avoided  both  these 
blunders  and  spared  the  original  design  of  the  church,  as  well 
as  its  most  remarkable  monument,  with  no  sacrifice  of  sitting 
accommodation. 

The  altar,  which  consisted  of  a  large  slab  of  Derbyshire  marble 
supported  on  an  iron  framework,  was  removed,  and  an  oak  table, t 
which  stood  in  the  vestry,  and  which  in  all  probability  had  served 
as  the  Communion  Table  of  the  previous  church  in  post-Reformation 
days,  put  in  its  place.  We  should  not  have  been  disposed  to 
quarrel  with  this  reversion  to  the  old  Table,  had  not  the  marble 
slab,  from  which  the  Holy  Eucharist  had  been  administered  to 
Derby  churchmen  for  upwards  of  150  years,  been  prominently 
affixed  to  the  wall  by  the  north-east  door,  and,  with  almost 
inconceivably  bad  taste  and  lack  of  reverence,  incised  in  large 
Roman  characters  with  the  following  inscription  : — 

"This  slab,  supported  on  ornamental  ironwork,  was  for  .many  years  used 
instead  of  a  communion  table,  but  was  removed  when  the  present  table  was 
found  in  the  church  and  restored  to  its  original  use. 

SHOLTO  D.  C.  DOUGLAS,  Vicar. 
GEOKGE  HAYWOOD, 


tJEORGE    HAYWOOD,        \ 

WALTEB  KANDALL,      J  Churchwardens,  A.D.  1873. 


'  Wishing  a  godly  unity  to  be  observed  in  all  our  diocese,  and  for  that  the  form 
of  a  table  may  more  move  and  turn  the  simple  from  the  old  superstitious  opinions 
of  the  popish  mass,  and  to  the  right  use  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  We  exhort  the 
curates,  churchwardens,  and  questmen  here  present  to  erect  and  set  up  the  Lord's 
board  after  the  form  of  an  honest  table  decently  covered.' — Bishop  Eidley's 
injunction,  A.D.  1550,  in  his  visitation  of  the  Diocese  of  London. 

"  As  to  the  illegality  of  stone  altars  instead  of  moveable  tables  of  wood,  see 
Falkiier  v.  Litchfield." 

*  Considerable  opposition  was  made  to  the  interfence  with  the  ironwork  by  several 
of  the  most  influential  parishioners.  An  opposition  to  the  grant  of  Faculty  was 
entered  in  the  Consistory  Court,  Lichfield,  but  eventually  a  compromise  was  come  to, 
by  which  it  was  agreed  that  ;'  the  side  railings  and  gates"  of  the  Devonshire  chapel 
and  vestry  should  be  placed  on  the  north  and  south  sides  of  "  the  Communion  space." 
This  agreement  has  not  been  carried  out.  The  railings  were  thus  placed,  but  the  gates 
have  been  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of;  moreover,  the  old  gates  of  the  chancel 
itself  have  been  illegally  removed,  and  now  lie  with  a  lot  of  exposed  human  remains 
and  other  debris  in  the  the  town  vault.  Other  parts  of  the  ironwork  are  also  missing. 

t  The  Churchwardens'  accounts  for  1620  have  an  entry  which  most  likely  gives  us 
the  cost  of  this  table — "  Paid  for  a  Communion  Table  and  painting  the  feete  thereof 
±'1  5s.  Gd." 


94  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

With  respect  to  this  inscription  (apart  from  the  question  of 
taste),  it  may  be  remarked — that  it  is  rather  singular  to  quote 
from  the  injunction  of  a  Bishop  of  another  see,  that  which  could 
only  apply  to  his  own  diocese — that  it  is  still  more  singular  to 
affix  the  words  of  a  Bishop's  injunction  to  the  walls  of  a  church 
that  was  to  so  considerable  an  extent  extra-episcopal — that  the  word 
"honest"  at  that  time  meant  nothing  more  or  less  than  decent  or 
comely — that  the  Church  of  England  has  used  the  words  "  table  " 
and  "  altar "  as  synonymous  terms  both  before  and  since  the 
Eeformation* — that  the  material  of  which  the  Holy  Table  must  be 
made  is  nowhere  prescribed  by  any  binding  authority — and  finally 
that  the  table  of  iron  and  marble  placed  in  the  chancel  in  1725 
was  as  absolutely  and  undeniably  legal  as  the  table  of  wood  now 
in  use.f 

Some  opposition  being  made  to  the  removal  of  the  altar,  a 
faculty  was  obtained  after  the  event,  dated  May  23rd,  1873,  con- 
firming the  change,  and  other  alterations,  but  we  do  not  find  any 
faculty  for  affixing  the  old  slab  to  the  wall  or  graving  it  with  the 
inscription  that  we  have  just  quoted.  In  the  body  of  this  faculty 
we  find  that  the  Consistory  Court  of  Lichfield  were  gravely  assured 
by  the  applicants  that  the  old  church  of  All  Saints  "  was  burnt 
down  in  or  about  the  year  1722 !"  Whence  the  vicar  and  church- 
wardens obtained  this  startling  information  we  are  at  a  loss  to 
conceive. 

The  same  faculty  obtained  a  confirmation  for  the  removal  of 
the  pulpit  and  reading  desk  to  that  most  thoroughly  unsuitable 
position,  the  centre  of  the  middle  aisle,  so  as  to  block  out  all  view 
of  the  Holy  Table  from  many  of  the  congregation.  We  notice  it, 
because  misleading  statements  are  made  in  the  faculty  as  to  the 
former  position  of  the  pulpit.  It  is  true  that  the  pulpit,  when  the 
church  was  rebxiilt,  was  originally  placed  in  the  middle  aisle,  but 
it  only  remained  there  for  a  year,  for  in  1726  the  parish  resolved 
to  remove  it  "  to  ye  South  Pillar  next  to  it."  The  old  pulpit, 
though  of  good  oak,  was  discarded  during  the  recent  alterations, 
and  sold  by  auction.  It  was  rescued  out  of  a  second-hand  dealer's 

*  The  previously  quoted  fifteenth  century  inventory  of  this  very  church  uses  the 
expressions  "  altar"  and  "table,"  in  consecutive  lines,  as  applied  to  that  portion  of 
church  furniture  on  which  the  Holy  Eucharist  was  celebrated  in  the  quire  of  S. 
Katharine. 

f  We  should  not  speak  thus  positively  unless  we  had  high  diocesan  authority  in 
support  of  our  assertion.  With  respect  to  the  consecration  of  an  altar  at  Foremark 
by  Bishop  Hacket,  in  1662,  the  slab  of  which  consists  of  grey  marble,  see  Churches 
of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  445. 


ALL    SAINTS.  95 

shop,  and  is  now,  we  are  glad  to  say,  utilised,  with  certain 
necessary  alterations,  in  the  parish  church  of  Pleasley. 

The  font,  at  the  west  end  of  the  church,  is  of  octagon  shape 
and  debased  design.  It  is  45  inches  high,  and  28  inches  in 
diameter.  We  suppose  it  to  be  the  one  supplied  to  the  old  church 
in  1662  : — "  Item  to  Elias  Grice  for  makinge  the  font  per  agrement 
£3-11-8." 

The  destruction  of  monuments  at  the  time  of  the  rebuilding  of 
the  church  was  simply  shameful.  Not  only  were  many  of  con- 
siderable antiquity  and  interest  destroyed,  but  even  some  which 
had  been  erected  to  persons  of  distinction  within  a  few  years  of 
the  pulling  down  of  the  old  fabric.  An  ignorant  and  bigoted  poem 
on  All  Saints',  by  John  Edwards,  published  in  1805,  is  good 
enough  to  attribute  the  lack  of  ancient  "  foolish  epitaphs "  to  a 
much  earlier  period  : — 

"  Here  with  purifying  wand, 
The  Angel  of  the  Reformation  stood, 
And  swept  them,  to  oblivion." 

But  the  angel  of  destruction  was  busier  in  the  eighteenth  than 
in  the  sixteenth  century. 

The  oldest  monument  is  a  large  incised  slab  of  alabaster, 
against  the  north  wall,  representing  a  priest  standing  under  a 
richly  adorned  canopy,  habited  in  albe,  surplice,  canonical  almuce, 
his  right  hand  upraised  and  holding  in  his  left  hand  a  chalice. 
Bound  the  edge  of  the  slab  is  this  inscription  : — 

"  Subtus  me  jacet  Johannes  Law  quondam  Canonicus  Ecclesie  Colegiate 
Omniu  Scor  Derbe  ac  subdecanus  ejusdem  qui  obiit  anno  Dni  Millimo 

ccccmo  cuj  aie  ppicietur  Deus  Amen." 

This  was  evidently  cut  during  the  lifetime  of  the  sub -dean,  and 
the  spaces  left  for  the  exact  date  of  his  death  were  never  filled  in. 
John  Law  was  living  in  1440,  when  he  was  present  at  the 
concluding  of  an  agreement  between  S.  Michael's  and  the  chapelry 
of  Alvaston,  to  which  we  shall  subsequently  allude.  Over  his  head 
are  two  fillets,  bearing  this  legend  : — 

"Dne  Jsu  Xte  fili  dei  miserere  mei." 

The  stone  was  repaired  in  1854,  and  now  bears  at  the  base 
this  additional  inscription  : — 

"  Eestitutum  cura  et  impensis  T.  0.  Bateman  A.D.  MDCCCLIV." 
Bassano  (1710)   says: — "In   the   east  end   of  the   north   aisle  is 


96  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

a  tombe  all  of  wood  erected  4  feet  high.  On  it  is  the  full  propor- 
tion of  a  man  in  Priests  orders  in  full  canonical  robes,  supposed 
to  be  an  Abbot  of  Darley,  a  dog  at  his  feet  collared  and  looking 
mournfully  up  at  his  master.  Upon  ye  side  of  ye  tomb  cut  on  ye 
wood  are  ye  effigies  of  13  monks  in  praying  posture  and  under 
ym  cut  on  wood  lyeth  a  man  on  his  left  side  and  wrapped  up  in 
his  winding  sheet  with  a  cross  patee  on  his  left  breast."  This 
monument  was  not  actually  destroyed  in  1723-5,  but  it  was  divided 
up  into  its  component  parts.  The  wooden  effigy,  and  also  the 
cadaver,  or  shrouded  figure  below  it,  found  refuge  in  the  "  town 
vault,"  below  the  north  side  of  the  church.  Here,  alas,  they  still 
remain.  A  century  and  a  half  of  damp  and  neglect  has  eaten  away 
and  much  defaced  both  effigy  and  cadaver,  and  within  the  last  three 
years  the  head  of  the  former,  which  was  in  a  fair  state  of  pre- 
servation, has  been  dragged  off  and  abstracted.  The  effigy,  which 
is  5  ft.  10  in.  long  by  2  ft.  wide,  is  clad  in  albe,  surplice,  canonical 
almuce,  and  over  all  a  processional  cope — a  most  interesting  and 
exceptional  combination  of  vestments.  (Plate  IV.)  We  earnestly 
hope  that  the  worm-eaten  remains  of  this  effigy  will  not  be  suffered 
to  go  to  complete  decay.  The  effigy  is  not,  of  course,  to  an  Abbot 
of  Darley,  but  pertains  to  a  fifteenth  century  canon  of  All  Saints', 
probably  another  sub-dean.  When  Mr.  Eawlins  was  here,  in  1831, 
he  noted  the  side  of  this  tomb  with  the  thirteen  monks  (which  he 
considered  to  be  S.  Paul  and  the  twelve  apostles)  underneath  the 
east  window  against  the  wall.  Tradition,  he  tells  us,  ascribed  it 
to  the  apex  of  the  arch  over  the  south  porch  door  of  the  old 
church,  but  he  did  not  agree  with  this  surmise,  but  thought  it  the 
upper  part  of  a  door-case  leading  into  a  confessional !  This  piece 
_of  carving,  in  good  condition,  now  forms  part  of  the  panelling  in 
front  of  the  consistory  seat  on  the  north  side  of  the  church. 
(Plate  IV.)  On  a  panel  of  this  seat  is  inscribed  : — 

"  The  old  Church  was  begun  to  be  taken  down  Feb  ye  18th  172f.  The  first 
Sermon  was  preached  in  the  new  Church  Novem  the  21st  1725  by  y*  Rev.  Dr. 
Hutchinson." 

Against  the  east  wall,  by  the  north-east  door,  are  three  brass 
plates  fixed  in  oak  frames.  The  epitaphs  on  them  are  as  follows : 

"Hoc  lapide  marmoreo  tegitur  Corpus  Joh'is  Walton  Sacra  Theol :  Baccal: 
quondam  archi'ni  Derbien  :  prebend :  p'bendae  :  de  Wellington  in  eccle'a  Cathi  : 
Lick :  et  Rectoris  Ecclesiar  :  de  Breadsall  &  Gedling  :  qui  testamento  suo  dedit 
C  1  ad  augendum  hujus  eccl'ias  ministri  stipeudium  Et  xxl.  ad  emendum  duos 
inauratos  crateras  in  usum  Ballinor  :  hujus  burgi  Derb  :  atque  c  1  mutuo  dandas 
ee  a  4'or  in  4'or  aimos  in  perpetuum  x  hujus  burgi  artificib :  iuopia  laborantib :  ac 


ALL     SAINTS.  97 

xx  1.  code  modo  dandas  ee  mutuo  4'or  egenis  artificib :  Dunelmi  habitautib  :  et 
Lxxx  1.  in  uberiorem  sustentationem  pauperura  in  villis  de  Breadsall  &  Gedling 
prsedictis.  Obiit  1°'  die  Junii  A"'  D'ni  1603.  ^Etatis  suas  57." 

"Hereby  lyeth  the  body  of  Jane  late  wife  of  the  said  Jo:  Walton.  She  gave 
by  will  c  1.  for  releefe  of  Schollers  in  St.  John's  Coll :  Cambridge  :  40  1  for 
Benefit  of  the  Schoolm'r  of  Derby  :  40  1  for  releefe  of  Poore  in  Derby  :  20  1.  to 
be  lent  to  four  tradsmen  in  Durham  Gratis  :  20  1.  for  releefe  of  Almswomen  in 
Lichfeld :  20  1.  for  releefe  of  Poor  in  Chesterfield,  &  20  1.  for  releefe  of  Poore  and 
repayre  of  the  Church  of  St.  Alkmud  in  Derby.  In  which  p'rsh  she  dyed  the 
xxii  of  Januarie  1605,  beinge  80  yeares  of  age." 

"Loe  Richard  Kilby  lieth  here 
Which  lately  was  our  ministere. 
To  th'  poore  he  ever  was  a  frend, 
And  gave  them  all  hee  had  at's  end. 
This  towne  must  twenty  shillings  pay 
To  them  for  him  ech  Good  Friday. 
God  graunt  all  Pastors  his  good  mind 
Thatt  they  may  leave  good  deeds  behind. 
Hee  dyed  the  xxi  st  of  October,  1617." 

When  the  church  was  taken  down  these  plates  were  stolen. 
They  were  recovered  by  Mr.  Cantrell,  vicar  of  S.  Alkmund's,  and 
restored  to  the  church  on  condition  of  the  churchwardens  "fixing 
them  on  strong  frames  of  wood  in  the  new  church." 

Against  the  south  wall  is  the  fine  mural  monument  to  the  cele- 
brated Elizabeth,  Countess  of  Shrewsbury — better  known  as  "Bess 
of  Hardwick" — erected  during  her  lifetime,  and  liberally  endowed 
for  its  perpetual  repair.  In  a  recess  in  the  lower  part  is  her 
effigy,  arrayed  in  the  costly  full  dress  of  the  times,  with  a  coronet 
on  her  head,  and  her  hands  joined  in  prayer.  Beneath  is  the  fol- 
lowing inscription:  — 

"P.  M.  Elizabetha  Johannis  Hardwicke  de  Hardwicke  in  agro  Derbi :  Armi- 
geri  filiae,  fratrique  Johanni  tandem  cohoeredi,  primo  Roberto  Barley  de  Barley  in 
dicto  com:  Derb  :  armig:  nuptae,  postea  Will'o  Cavendish  de  Chatsworth  equ :  aur: 
(thesaurario  cameras  regibus  Henrico  VIII.  Edvardo  VI.  ac  Maries  reginae,  quibus 
etiam  fuit  a  secretioribus  consiliis.)  Deinde  Will'o  St,  Low  militi  regii  satellitij 
Capitaneo.  Ac  ultimo  prsenobili  Georgia  Comiti  Salopiae  desponsatae.  Per  quern 
Will'm  Cavendish  prolem  solummodo  habuit,  filios  tres,  scilp  Henricum  Cavendish 
de  Tutbury  in  agro  Staff :  arinig :  (Qui  Qraciam  dicti  Georgii  Comitis  Salopice 
filiarn  in  uxorem  duxit,)  sine  prole  legitima  defunctum ;  Will'm,  in  baronem 
Cavendish  de  Hardwicke,  uecnon  in  Comite  Devonie  perserenissimu  nuper  rege 
Jacobum  evectum.  Et  Carolum  Cavendish  de  Welbek  Eq :  Aur:  patrem  honora- 
tissimi  Will'i  Cavendish  de  Balneo  militis,  Bar:  Ogle  jure  matemo,  et  in  Vicecom: 
Mansfeild,  Comitem,  Marchioue,  ac  Ducem  de  Novo  Castro  super  Tinam,  et 
Comite  de  Ogle  merito  creati ;  totidemque  filios,  scil't  Francescam  Henrico  Pier- 
repont  JEq:  aurato ;  Elizabetham  Carolo  Stuarto  Lenoxias  Comiti;  &  Mariain 
Gilberto  Comiti  Salopice  enuptas,  Hasc  inclitissima  Elizabetha  Salopiaa  Comitissa 
.ZEdium  de  Chatsworth,  Hardwick,  &  Oldcotes  magnificentia  clarissimarum  fabri- 
catrix.  Vitam  hanc  transitoriam  XIII.  die  mensis  Februarij  Anno  ab  incarna- 
tione  D'ni  M  D  C  VII.  ac  circa  annum  ^Etatis  sum  Lxxxvij  finivit,  et  gloriosaui 
expectans  resurrectionem  subtus  jacet  tumulata." 
8 


98  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

The  arms  on  the  monument  are — Hard  wick  impaling  Leeke,* 
and  a  twelve- quartered  coat  of  Talbot  impaling  Hardwick  quarter- 
ing Leigh. 

In  the  centre  of  the  Cavendish  chapel,  in  the  south-east  angle 
of  the  church,  used  to  stand,  before  the  recent  restoration,  a  large 
monument,  twelve  feet  high,  to  the  memory  of  William,  Earl  of 
Devonshire,  who  died  in  1628,  and  Christian,  his  countess,  the 
only  daughter  of  Lord  Bruce  of  Kinlop.  It  is  thus  described  by 
Simpson  : — "  Each  side  of  this  monument  is  open,  and  in  the 
middle,  under  a  dome,  are  whole-length  figures,  in  white  marble, 
of  the  Earl  and  his  Lady,  standing  upright.  The  angles  on  the 
outside  are  ornamented  with  busts  of  their  four  children  ;  William, 
the  eldest,  successor  to  the  Earl  ;  Charles,  Lieutenant-General  of 
Horse  in  the  civil  wars  ;  Henry,  who  died  young  ;  and  Anne, 
married  to  Eobert,  Lord  Eich,  son  and  heir  to  Robert,  Earl  of 
Warwick."  These  figures  and  busts  now  stand  in  a  row  against 
the  south  wall,  and  present  anything  but  a  graceful  appearance. 
On  the  plinth  is  inscribed  : — 

"  The  interior  of  this  Church  was  restored  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
MDCCCLXXVI  and  in  order  to  provide  additional  space  for  the  increased  popu- 
lation of  the  parish  it  became  necessary  to  remove  the  large  monument  erected 
to  William  2nd  Earl  of  Devonshire  who  died  June  20tb,  1628,  whose  remains  rest 
in  the  vault  below.  The  figures  above  this  slab  are  those  of  William,  2nd  Earl  of 
Devonshire  and  Christian  his  Countess  ;  with  busts  of  their  sons  William, 
Charles,  and  Henry,  and  Anne  their  daughter,  which  formed  part  of  the  monu- 
ment removed." 

Against  the  same  wall  are  monuments  to  William  Pousonby, 
Earl  of  Bessborough,  1792  ;  to  Caroline,  Countess  of  Bessborough, 
1760  :  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  church  are  monuments  to 
William  Allestry,  Recorder  of  Derby,  1655  ;  to  Richard  Crowshawe, 
a  great  benefactor  to  the  parish,  1631  ;  and  to  Thomas  Chambers, 
1726.t 

The  first  volume  of  the  registers  begins  in  the  year  1558  and 
ends  in  1711.  It  is  a  long  narrow  folio  of  parchment  in  fair 
condition,  and  copied  from  an  older  register  (not  now  extant)  up 
to  September,  1598. 

On  the  leaf  opposite  the  initial  page  is  written,  but  in  a  hand 
.at  least  fifty  years  later  than  the  event : — 

*  John  Hardwick,  the  father  of  the  countess,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Leeke.  See  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  i.  p.  246. 

t  Space  only  permits  to  name  two  or  three  of  the  more  remarkable  monuments. 
There  are  many  other  monuments  of  some  interest,  both  of  the  seventeenth  and  eigh- 
teenth centuries.  Every  inscription  in  this  church  will  be  given  verbatim  in  our 
monograph  on  All  Saints'. 


ALL     SAINTS.  99 

A  Poore  Blinde  Woman  called  Joane  Waste  of  this  parish  a  Marter  Burned 

in  Windmill  pitt  I8t  of  Augst  1556.* 
1562.  May,  June,  July,  August,    September,   October,    and    all    thinges    concerning 

this  booke  are  wantinge  in  the  old  booke. 
1564.  John    Houghton,  Clarke,   entered  to  the   Cure   and  Pastorall    charge  of   the 

parish  of  All  Sts  iu  Darby  the  9th  day  of  July  Ann.  Do.  1564. 
1570.  The    true  coppie  of   this  Booke  from  the  xxvth  day  of   March  1567  unto  the 

first    day    of    July   Anno    Do.    1570   was    exhibited    in    the    Lord    Bishops 

Visitacion  houlden  in  the  parishe  Churche  of   All   Sts  in  Derby  the  first  of 

July  Anno  Do.  1570. f 

1576.  Charles    Woode    minister   entred   to    the    cure   and   pastorall  charge    of    the 
parishe  of  All  Sts  in  Darby  the  xxth  day  of  January  Anno  Do.  1576. 

1577.  From  November  Ann.  Do.  1577   till  January   Ann.  Do.  1579  the  Register   is 
wantinge  :    so    y4  some  part  of    1577  is    wantinge  and   all  1578    and  1579    till 
January  in  default  of  Mr  Woode  the  minister  of  All  Sts  in  Darby. 

1580.  All  the  next  of  Ann.  Do.  1581  is  not  in  the  old  Register ;  and  some  partt  of 
Ann.  Do.  1581  is  wantinge  in  default  of  Mr  Wood  then  minister  of  All  Sts 
in  Derby. 

1583.  Sep.  Wilms  Beynbrigge  unus  ex  numero  fratru  Darbie,  May  5.J 

1592.  Edwarde  Bennett  minister  and  preacher  of  gods  woorde  was  admitted  to  the 
Cure    and   pastorall    charge    of    the   parishe   of    All    Sts    in   Darby    by    the 
Common  consentt  and  assentt  of   the  whole  governmentt  of   the  Towne  the 
28th  day  of  June  Ann.  Do.  1592. 

Sep.  31  Ricus  films  Wilmi  Sowter  sep.  31  die  ex  peste.  The  Plauge 
began  in  Darby  in  the  house  of  William  Sowter  bootcher,  in  the  parishe  of 
All  Sts  in  Darby,  Robertt  Woode  Ironmonger  &  Eobertt  Brookhouse  ye 
Tanner  beinge  then  bayliffes  and  so  continued  in  the  Towne  the  space  of 
12  moneths  at  y«  least  as  by  the  Eegister  may  appeare.§ 

1593.  Oct.  29.    About  this  tyme  the  plauge  of  pestilence,  by  the  great  mercy  and 
goodness  of  almighty  god,  stayed  past  all  expectacion  of  man,  for  it  ceased 
upon  a  sodayne  at  what  time  it  was  dispersed  in  every  corner  of  this  whole 
parishe,  there  was  not  two  houses  together  free  from  it,  and   yet  the  Lord 
had   the   augell   stey    as   in   David's  tyme,    his   name   be  blessed   for   ytt. 
Edward  Bennett,  minister. 

1598.  Sept.  27.  .This  whole  booke  was  written  over  out  of  the  old  regester  booke 
by  Edward  Bennett  minister  of  All  Sts  in  Darby  the  40  yeare  of  the  rayne 

*  Hutton  describes  Windmill  pit  as  being  "  near  the  Turnpike,  upon  the  Burton 
road,  about  a  mile  from  the  church."  For  a  detailed  and  apparently  accurate  account 
of  this  martyrdom,  see  Glover's  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  p.  61)4. 

t  Like  entries  occur,  mentioning  Episcopal  Visitations  in  this  church,  in  June, 
1573,  June,  1576,  May.  1589,  June,  1592,  November,  1594,  and  September,  1597., 

I  Henry  Woorden  and  William  Bradshawe,  who  died  in  1592,  and  Ralph  Bentley, 
in  1593,  are  entered  in  a  similar  way.  We  are  inclined  to  think  that  the  term  is 
equivalent  to  burgess. 

§  The  plague  was  very  destructive  in  the  house  where  it  first  broke  out.  Alice,  wife 
of  William  Sowter,  died  of  the  plague  on  November  25th;  Edward  and  Maria,  his 
children,  on  the  29th ;  his  son,  Johu,  on  December  5th ;  and  the  father  himself  on 
December  8th.  There  are  255  entries  of  death  from  the  plague  in  this  parish,  from 
September  31st,  1592,  to  October  29th,  1593.  The  registers  of  S.  Alkmund's  record  91 
.  deaths  from  the  plague  during  this  year,  those  of  S.  Michael  21,  and  those  of  SS  Peter 
and  Werburgh,  though  not  specifying  the  plague,  have  50  and  57  entries  of  death  for 
1593,  the  average  of  adjacent  years  being  only  five.  In  1637,  there  are  nine  deaths  from 
plague  entered  in  S.  Alkmund's  registers,  and  59  in  those  of  All  Saints'.  The  regis- 
ters of  S.  Peter  also  record  16  deaths  from  the  same  cause  in  1586,  and  63  in  1645.  In 
the  latter  year,  we  are  told  that  "the  plague  was  in  Derby  and  the  assizes  kept  in 
Fryer's  close."  But  Hutton  is  clearly  wrong  in  giving  a  graphic  account  of  the  con- 
dition of  Derby  during  the  plague  in  1665,  which  he  says  visited  this  town  at  the  same 
time  that  it  devastated  London.  The  death-rate  for  that  year  did  not  exceed  the 
average.  His  account  probably  applies  to  1593,  which  seems  to  have  been  by  far  the 
most  severe  that  was  felt  in  Derby,  next  to  the  general  visitation  of  the  Black  Death 
in  1349. 


100  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

of   Queeiie  Elizabeth  Ann.  Do.  1598  by  vertue   of   a  Camion  concluded  in    a 

parliraentt  hould  in  that  yeare. 
1601.  Elizabetha    Parkinson    pauper    dimersas    in    flumine    Darwini,    sep.    30    die 

februarii. 
1609.  Eichard  Kilbie,  minister  and   Preache    of   Gods  worde,  was  admitted  to   1he 

Cure   and    pastorale   charge    of   the   parish    of    All   Sts    in    Dearbie,  by  the 

common   consent  and  assent  of    the   whole   government   of    the  towne   the 

29th  of  Sep. 
16  !0.  I    see   no   reason  why  a  register   for  English   people    should    be    written   in 

latine.     Ric  Kilby.  minister  of  All  hallowes  in  Derby. 

Feb.    5.      Buryed  William  Norman    wch  was  drowned  god  knoweth  howe, 

o  god  be  mercifull  unto  us  sinners  that  we  maie  feare  thee,  and  be  allwaies 

prepared  to  die  well,  Amen. 

March  9.      Buryed    one    Peter   Manser    who  being  a  servant  to   Mr  Grieslie 

an   esqiiire  of    Staffordshier   was   here   slaine   in   an    ungodlie    fight   being 

wounded  in  the  back.* 

1614.  July  8.    Buried  Elizabeth  Langley  who  strangled  herself. 
1620.  Jan.  14.     Sep.  Mr  Robert  Wood  Quater  Balivus  Derbie.t 
1632.  June  15.    At  this  tyme  Mr  Hall  left  this  place  &  D"1  Williamot  was    elected 

minister  of  All  Sts  in  his  stid. 

1636.  Aug.  15th.     Sep.  George  Hillman  King  Charlls  his  baker  whoe  Came  wth  his 
Matie  one  his  progresse  to  this  towne,  and  dyed  heare  of  a  spotted  fever. 

1637.  June  26.     Sep.  Henry  Stawman  supposed  the  first  of  the  Plague.  J 

1638.  June  31.      Bap.  Robert  son    of    Mr  Edward  Willimott   D*  in    Divinity    &   of 

Dorothy  his  wif,  daughter  to  Sr  George  Greasley  Knight  Barronett. 

Feb.  7.     Sep.  Mr  Henry  Mellor  first  maior  of  Darby. 

Memd  1638.     Derby   made  a  maior   towne,  Mr  Henry    Mellor  ye   first   maior 

died  in  his  maiTty,  and  Mr  John  Hope  chosen  to  be  maior  till  Michaelmas 

1640. 

1641.  Oct.      This  month  begun  y8  Rebellion   in   Irelande,  y8  Papists  making  head 
against  y8  Kinges  Loyall  subjects,  wch  Rebellion  was   fild   wth  most   Bar- 
barouse  &  cruell  deeds. 

1642.  The  22  of  this  August  errectum  fait  Notinghamias  Vexillum  Regale.      Matt. 
xii.  25. 

Oct.    Bat.  at  Kinton  (Edgehill)  23  day. 
Nov.    Bat.  Branford  (Brentford)  12  day. 
Jan.    Bat.  at  Swarston  Bridge  5  day. 

Ashbie  ye  17. 

Feb.   11.     Sep.  William  Parker,  souldier  under  Cap:  Sanders. 
March.       The    20th    day  y6  Hon:    Lord   Brooke   slaine    at    ye    Siege    against 
Lichfield  Close,  it    was   yelded   up   y8   5th  day.      Y8    19    day   the    battell    at 
Stafford,  E.  of  Northampton  was  slaine. 

1643.  April.      The  8  day  Prince  Rupert  Beseiged  y6  Close  at  Lichfield  wch  close 
was  valiently  mentained    till   ye   21   &   ye   took   free    quarter    &  with    great 
honor  marcht  away. 

June  4.  The  body  of  Lord  Erie  of  Northampton  formerly  slayne  at 
Stafford  was  now  buried  in  the  familie  vault  belonging  to  the  Houble  house 
of  the  Lord  Cavendish  Erie  of  Devon,  in  wch  there  now  lyeth  Elizab. 
Countess  Shreusbi  and  William  Erie  of  Devon. 

*  "  So  violent  a  quarrel  took  place  between  the  electioneering  parties  of  Sir  Philip 
Stanhope  and  Sir  George  Gresley,  of  two  ancient  families  in  the  neighbourhood,  that 
the  assizes  were  held  at  Ashbourn."  Button's  Derbyshire,  p.  227. 

t  Robert  Wood  was  one  of  the  bailiffs  of  Derby  in  1584,  ]  592,  in  1600,  and  again  in 
1607. 

t  Fifty-nine  deaths  from  the  plague  are  entered  during  this  visitation,  the  last 
being  on  the  18th  of  the  following  January. 


ALL     SAINTS.  101 

I'i44.  April  2.  Sep.  Catherine  Gower  killed  wth  a  pistoll  bullet,  shot  through  the 
head  by  a  accedeiit. 

1*353.  \[emd  that  according  to  an  act  of  Parliament  bearinge  date  the  24th  day  of 
August,  1653  George  Blagreave  the  yotuiger  was  Elected  Register  of  the 
parish  of  All  Sfcs  in  Derby  before  Thomas  Youle  Maior  of  the  burrough  of 
Derby  and  Justice  of  peace  there.  Thomas  Yoole,  maior. 

1674.  Feb.  17.     Interred  CorrnelT  Charles  Caudish. 

Feb.  18.  Interred  Oulde  Christiana  the  Countes  of  Devonshire. 

1676.  Jan.  26.     Sep.  George  Blagrave  Cl.irk  of  All  Saints. 

1700.  May  19.     Sep*  The    Right    Honble  The    Lord    Henry  Cavendish  2d  Son  of  ye 
most  Noble  William  Duke  of  Deavoushire  Dyed  y*  10  of  this  month. 
May   19.      Sep*  Interred    the   Lady    Mary  his   Daughter   the  same  day,  who 
Dyed  April!  ye  1st,  1693,  and  had  been  buried  at  London  ye  time  before  and 
aged  3  weekes. 
June  13.     John  Ault  an  apprentis  Murdered  by  his  master  Gabriel  Mansffield. 

1707.  Sept.  5.  The  Illustrious  Prince  William  Duke  and  Earl  of  Devon,  Marquis 
of  Hartington,  Baron  Cavendish  of  Hardwick,  Lord  Lieutenant  and  Gustos 
Rotulorum  of  the  County  of  Derby,  Chief  Justice  in  Eyre  over  all  the 
forrosts  on  the  North  side  Trent,  one  of  her  Majesty's  Privy  Counsellors, 
and  Lord  High  Steward  of  her  Majesty's  household  and  Knight  of  the 
Noble  order  of  the  Garter  and  Lord  High  Steward  of  the  town  of  Derby 
dyed  at  his  house  in  London  Aug.  xviii  MDCCVII  anno  ^Etatis  LXVII  ineunte. 
He  was  bury'd  in  his  Vault  in  All  Hillovvds  Church  in  Derby  Sept.  5th,  by 
tho  Reverend  Mr  Walter  Hortou  Minister  of  that  Church. 

The  last  three  pages  of  the  register  book  contain  the  deaths  of 
the  inmates  of  the  Devonshire  Alrnhouses,  entered  separately,  in 
order  to  secure  the  appointment  by  the  town  to  every  third 
vacancy,  the  other  vacancies  being  filled  up  by  the  heirs  of  the 
founder — the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury.1" 

The  collegiate  house,  in  which  the  Canons  of  All  Saints'  resided, 
was  situated  close  to  the  church,  on  its  north  side.  The  modern 
house  on  that  site  is  still  designated  "  The  College." 


*  The  statutes  of  these  almshouses,  founded  in  1599,  for  eight  poor  men  and  four 
poor  women,  are  given  in  full  in  Simpson's  Derby,  pp.  48S-511.  The  inmates  were 
ordered  to  resort  to  daily  morning  and  evening  prayer  witliin  the  church  of  All  Saints. 


102  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 


of 


HE  ancient  chapel  of  S.  Mary-on-the-Bridge  is  one  of  the 
most  valuable  relics  of  old  Derby.  An  interesting 
St-"H!il  history  of  the  bridge  of  S.  Mary  might  be  compiled, 
but  that  would  be  foreign  to  our  purpose.  Suffice  it  here  to  say, 
that  we  know  there  was  a  bridge  rebuilt  or  repaired  on  or  about 
this  site  in  the  reign  of  John,  which  may  probably  have  dated 
back  to  the  time  when  the  Anglo-Saxons  finally  expelled  the 
marauding  Danes  from  the  borough  of  Derby.  The  Eoman 
bridge,  leading  to  Little  Chester,  was  higher  up  the  river. 

The  pious  custom  of  having  chapels  erected  on  bridges,  or 
forming  component  parts  of  the  structure,  seems  to  have  generally 
prevailed  with  all  bridges  of  importance.  The  building  of  bridges 
was  regarded  as  a  peculiarly  religious  work,  and  the  founder  some- 
times left  his  body  to  be  interred  in  the  bridge-chapel,  and 
endowed  a  priest  to  there  sing  masses  for  his  soul.  Peter  de 
Colechurch  who  began  the  first  London  bridge  of  stone  in  1176, 
dying  in  1205,  was  buried  in  the  chapel  of  S,  Thomas-on-the- 
Bridge.*  One  of  the  most  remarkable  examples  of  these  structures, 
was  on  the  bridge  at  Droitwich,  where  the  roadway  actually 
passed  through  the  chapel  and  separated  the  priest  from  his 
congregation. t  Several  instances  of  English  bridge-chapels,  in  a 
more  or  less  dilapidated  condition,  yet  remain,  but  a  considerable 
number  have  disappeared  during  the  improvements  of  the  present 
century.  We  have  already  drawn  attention  to  the  old  chapel 
formerly  on  Swarkeston  bridge.^  S.  Mary's  Bridge — by  which  access 
was  gained  from  Nottingham  and  the  south  into  the  town  of 
Derby,  through  whose  streets  lay  one  of  the  most  important 

*  Annals  of  Waverley,  p,  168;  Chronicles  of  London  Bridge,  p.  65,  etc. 
t  Nash's  Worcestershire,  vol.  i.,  p.  329. 
J  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  471. 


S.     MAKY-ON-THE-BRIDGE.  103 

thoroughfares  from  London  to  the  north — must  in  medieval  days 
have  been  of  considerable  importance.  It  is  pleasant  to  think  of 
the  busy  burgesses  or  men-at-arms  turning  aside  into  the  chapel 
of  Our  Lady  for  a  brief  silent  prayer,  before  crossing  the  Derwent 
and  plunging  into  the  forests  that  stretched  out  before  them  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river.* 

Hutton,    writing    in    1791,    speaks  of  this  chapel  as  being   ''per- 
fectly in  the  Saxon  style,"    and   adds : — "  It  stands  upon  the  verge 
of  the   river  ;    forms   part  of    the    bridge,  with  which    it    is   inter- 
woven, as  if   erected  with  it ;    and  was  in  my  time  converted   into 
little   dwellings."  t     At    that   time    "Saxon"    was    used   to  express 
what  we  now  know  to  be  Norman  architecture/  and  possibly,  though 
not  at  all  probably,    Hutton   may  have  seen  within    the  chapel,  be- 
fore  its    conversion   into   dwellings,  some   arches  or  other  traces  of 
Norman  work  that  may  have  pertained  to  the  reign  of  John.     The 
old  bridge  of  S.  Mary  was  begun  to  be  taken  down,  and  the  present 
one  built  ten  yards  higher  up  the  stream,  in  the  year  1789.     From 
the  long   account   given  of  this   bridge    by  Hutton   (into  which  we 
must  not  wander),    from  several   shorter   but   earlier    accounts,  and 
from  the  remains  of  the  bridge  on  which  the   chapel  stands,  toge- 
ther with   the  foundations  of  the  old   piers   that  are  exposed  when 
the  river  is  very  low,  we  are  inclined  to  think  that  the  bridge  then 
taken   down   pertained   in   the  main    to  the   14th  century.     But  we 
advance   this  opinion  with   some  diffidence.     If  this  is  the  case,    it 
is   hardly  likely  that   any   of    the   masonry   of    the   chapel   itself  is 
older  than  that  date.     One  of  the  timbers  of  the  high-pitched  roof, 
now   underdrawn,    is   beautifully   moulded    with   a   running    pattern 
(Plate  IV.)  having  a  strong   resemblance   to   the  band  of  moulding 
below  the  parapets  of  the  towers  of  Chesterfield,  Crich,  and  Deuby, 
and   is,  undoubtedly,  of  the   Decorated   style.      The  four  light  east 
window — which    is    about    the    only   old    ecclesiastical    feature   now 
remaining — is,  however   of  later   date,    being   of    the   Perpendicular 
style,  and  probably  not  earlier  than  the  time  of  Edward  IV.     It  is 
divided  by  a  transom   into  two  parts  ;  the  upper  sections  have  had 
cinquefoil  heads,  now  broken  away  into  trefoils ;    and  the  lower  are 
trefoiled.      The   inner   area  of   the  chapel   is  about  45  ft.  by  15  ft. 

*  That  this  is  no  fanciful  picture  can  be  testified  by  those  who  have  watched  the 
unobtrusive  piety  of  the  frequenters  of  similar  chapels  in  the  Catholic  countries  ofthe 
continent.  May  we  be  excused  for  expressing  a  strong  hope  that  this  chapel,  restored 
once  more  to  sacred  purposes,  may  soon  be  left  open  (instead  of  being  jealously 
locked),  so  that  wayfarers  and  the  frequenters  of  the  markets  may  at  all  events  have 
the  chance  of  a  few  moments  of  uninterrupted  prayer  ? 

t  Button's  Histnrij  of  Derby,  p.  183. 


104  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

The  present  boarded  floor  is  nearly  three  feet  above  the  original 
level. 

The  earliest  record  that  we  have  seen  of  this  chapel  is  an  In- 
ventory of  great  interest,  drawn  up  in  1488  by  the  churchwardens 
of  All  Saints',  which  is  a  proof  that  it  was  then  considered  to  per- 
tain to  that  parish,  and  not  to  St.  Alkmund's.  This  Inventory 
makes  it  quite  clear  that  the  chapel  had  a  special  priest  of  its  own 
and  regular  service. 

OUBE  LADY  OF  THE  BEYGE 

.  And  the  saide  John  and  thos  oxle  the  same  tyme  made  accompt  to  the  saide 
Auditors  of  all  juels  and  ornamentes  beyinge  att  the  mary  of  brigge  that  be  in 
the  custody  of  John  Shenton  Armett  and  hys  wyffe — Syr  John  Dale  then  there 
pste. 

Inprm  one  cote  of  crymyson  velvett  endented  with  golde  that  my  lady  Gray 
gaffe,  and  opon  hytt  ys  Ixvj  penyes  ij  gilte  peuies,  one  gylte  ob  (farthing),  ij 
penese  of  ijd,  one  grotte,  An'  Be  of  silver,  ij  shelles  of  sylver,  one  herte  of  silver, 
a  mound  of  silver,  one  broche  of  copur  and  gylte,  ij  shafts  of  silver,  one  cristall 
stone  inclosed  in  silver. 

Also  one  cote  of  blewe  velvett  y*  my  lady  chamburlayne  gaffe,  Thereupon  ys  a 
crowen  of  sylver  and  gylte  that  John  boroes  gaffe.  Itm'  A  grette  broche  of  silver 
and  gylte  with  a  stonne  in  hytt.  Also  one  casse  of  Redde  satten  with  buttons 
of  silver  and  gilte.  Itm  Ix  penes  iij  gylt  penes,  one  peny  of  ijd,  one  crosse  of 
sylver.  Itm'  a  casse  of  velvett,  one  broche,  and  one  peny  of  hytt,  and  a  crystall 
stonne. 

Itm'  one  Garment  yl  my  lady  longforth  gaff  of  blewe  velvett  and  Rede  And 
one  yt  ys  a  crucifix  of  silver  and  gylte  with  a  rynge  of  golde  that  maistres 
bonynton  gaffe,  Also  a  rynge  of  silver  and  gilte,  another  of  copr,  vj  steyd  a  iiijd 
and  vj  halfepens,  iij  grotes,  iij  pens  of  ijd,  vi  flewes  of  silver  and  gilte,  Itm'  x 
Curall  bedes  with  ij  silver  Gawdyse. 

Itm'  one  Cote  to  or  lorde  of  Crymysyn  velvett  furred  with  many  ver'  y*  my 
lady  longforth  gaff,  Opon  hytt  ys  a  shylde  of  sylver  with  v  bende  pens,  Itm'  xj 
pens,  and  v  gylte  pens,  a  peny  of  ijd,  Itm'  one  payr  of  bedes  of  silver  gaudied 
with  chorall  yt  oxle  wyff  gaff,  Itm'  one  stone  closed  in  silver  with  one  cros  of 
silver,  one  broch  of  silver,  ij  other  broches  of  silver  and  gilte  with  one  colar  of 
blak  perle  with  xvij  belles  of  silver  and  gylte. 

ITM  one  payre  of  bedes  of  corall  gaudede,  havynge  gaudeses  of  silver  and  gilte 
with  iiij  rynges  and  ij  not  fixed  of  silver  and  gilte  with  a  cristall  stone  sett  in 
silver  and  a  stone  of  corall  that  Richard  Baker  ("  Sale"  erased)  wyfe  gaffe. 

Itm'  another  payre  of  bedes  of  Corall  with  gaudese  of  silver  and  gylte  with 
one  golde  rynge  and  ij  rengs  of  silver  and  gilte  with  ij  crucifixes  of  sylver  and 
gylte  that  richard  Sale  wyfe  gaffe. 

Itm'  one  payre  of  bedes  of  corall  gaudede  with  sylver  yt  Richard  Colyar  wyffe 
gaffe. 

Itm'  one  payre  of  bedes  of  blak  jette. 

Itm'  one  payre  of  bedes  of  corall  with  a  crose  stone  with  xxv  gaudies  of  silver 
with  a  tufte  sett  with  perles  y*  Rogr  Justice  wyfe  gaffe. 

Itm'  one  gylte  gyrdel  yfc  maistres  entwysel  gaffe. 

Itm'  one  purpulle  gyrdel  yl  Edmnde  dey  wyfe  gaffe. 

Itm'  one  blewe  gyrdell  hernest  with  vij  studdes  on  hytt  y*  John  Hyll  wyffe 
gaffe. 

ITE  one  whyte  vestemente  of  damaske  with  all  thynges  that  lougeth  to  yt  and 
ij  corporaxes  of  Rede  velvett. 


S.     MARY -ON-THE- BRIDGE.  105 

It'  v  alt*  clothes  ij  of  them  of  twille.  It'  v  towells  one  of  them  of  twylle,  and 
ij  pax  bredes. 

Itm'  iiij  frontels  one  of  blewe  say  with  sterres  on  hytt  y*  Sr  James  Blounte 
Knyght  gaffe. 

ITEM  in  the  chapelle  ys  ij  masbokes,  j  sawtr,  one  chalice  of  silver  and  gylte, 
ij  cruettes,  one  coper,  ij  cushens  of  tapstre  warke  that  Alesone  Sonkye  gaff,  one 
pyloe  of  corall,  ij  cappes  to  or  lorde,  one  blewe  velvett  with  one  peyre  of  bedes 
gaudede  with  perle  with  iij  stones  of  corall  and  one  peny  of  hytt,  Itm'  another 

of  blak  with  crowned of  ytt  and  one  flower  of  silver  and  gylte,  Itm'  ij 

candelstikkes  of  latten  and  xix  tapurs  of  wax. 

The  chapel  seems  to  have  been  desecrated  and  divine  service 
abandoned  at  the  time  of  the  Eeformation,  but  the  building  and 
its  appurtenances  were  transferred  to  the  town  of  Derby.  They 
used  the  rents  in  the  repairs  of  the  churches  whose  advowsons 
had  been  given  to  them  by  Queen  Mary.  Queen  Elizabeth,  how- 
ever, treating  the  property  as  confiscated  to  the  Crown,  granted 
it  by  letters  patent  to  one  William  Buckley,  and  it  formed  part 
of  the  disputed  property  about  which  a  Special  Commission  sat  at 
Derby  in  1592,  as  already  narrated.  Before  that  commission 
Richard  Stringer,  gentleman,  aged  threescore,  deposed : — 

"  That  he  hath  knowen  the  Chappell  of  the  Brigge  mentioned  in  the  interroga- 
tion and  the  howse  orchard  and  yarde  therto  adjoyninge  to  have  bene  letten 
duringe  all  the  tyme  of  his  remembrance  by  the  Chamberlens  of  the  said  Towne 
wth  the  consent  of  the  Bailiffes  and  Burgesses  of  the  Towne  of  Derbie  And  the 
said  Chamberlens  of  the  said  Towne  have  during  the  said  tyme  received  the  said 
Eente  due  for  the  same  to  the  use  of  the  Burgesses  of  the  said  Towne  of  Derbie." 

In  another  part  of  these  papers  it  is  described  as  "  The  chappie 
of  the  Bridge  wth  all  edifisyse  gardens  etc.  in  the  occupation  of 
Ellis  Bradshaw  to  the  colledge  or  free  chappie  belounginge."  The 
Commissioners  decided  that  it  had  been  proved  that  the  chapel  on 
the  bridge  and  its  appurtenances  had,  inter  alia,  belonged  to  the 
Bailiffs  and  Burgesses  of  the  town  for  six  or  seven  score  years  last 
passed,  and  that  therefore  the  letters  patent  to  William  Buckley 
were  of  no  effect.*  The  Commissioners  considerably  ante-dated  the 
time  at  which  the  chapel,  etc.,  came  into  the  hands  of  the  town, 
for  they  had  nothing  to  do  with  it  until  after  the  dissolution  of  the 
College  of  All  Saints  in  the  time  of  Edward  VI. 

The  bridge  of  S.  Mary  would  undoubtedly  in  the  old  days  have 
a  gatehouse  for  the  purposes  of  defence,  as  well  as  for  the  levying 
of  tolls  and  other  town  dues,  and  it  seems  to  us  that  this  stood  at 
the  left-hand  side  of  the  chapel  on  leaving  the  town,  with  one 
side  built  into  or  formed  by  the  chapel  itself.  It  would  be  on  this 
gatehouse,  if  not  on  the  actual  chapel,  that  the  heads  and  quarters 

*  Old  papers  in  the  chest  at  All  Saints'. 


106  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

of  the  priests  who  were  martyred  at  Derby,  July  25th,  1588,  were 
impaled,  and  whence  they  were  shortly  afterwards  piously  stolen 
for  burial  by  "  two  resolute  Catholic  gentlemen."  * 

After  S.  Bartholomew's  day,  1662,  the  Presbyterians  of  Derby 
were  not  a  little  harassed  and  persecuted,  but  Bishop  Hacket  at 
length,  according  to  Hutton,f  sanctioned  their  assembling  for  wor- 
ship in  this  old  chapel.  But  they  did  not  long  avail  themselves  of 
this  permission,  for  in  the  reign  of  James  II.  they  housed  them- 
selves in  a  wide  yard  on  the  east  side  of  Irongate.  Towards  the 
end  of  last  century,  as  we  have  already  seen,  the  chapel  was  con- 
verted into  small  dwellings.  Subsequently  it  was  used  as  a  car- 
penter's shop.  Most  of  the  woodwork  for  the  new  church  of 
S.  Michael's  was  herein  constructed  in  the  year  1857.  Within  the 
last  few  years  an  effort  was  happily  made  by  a  few  Churchmen  J 
to  recover  it  for  the  use  'of  the  Church,  and  eventually,  on  Sep- 
tember 17th,  1873,  the  Bishop's  license  was  obtained  for  a  renewal 
of  services  within  its  walls.  It  is  simply  but  appropriately  fur- 
nished, and  is  served  by  the  clergy  of  S.  Alknaund's. 

We  have  not  met  with  any  view  of  this  building  earlier  than  a 
sketch  taken  by  Mr.  Meynell  in  1812,  when  it  was  in  almost  pre- 
cisely the  condition  represented  on  Plate  IV. 


*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol  ii.,  p.  251. 
f  Button's  History  of  Derby,  p.  168. 

J  At  the  instigation  of  the  Rev.  W.  Beresford,  of  S.  Chad's,  Stafford,  then  curate  at 
S.  Alkmund's. 


QUARNDON.  107 


C^apeto  of  (Etuarntrou, 


jjHE  chapel  of  Quarndon  pertained  to  the  parish  of  All 
Saints'.  The  manor  of  Quarndon,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  was  at  an  early  date  in  the  hands  of  the  Dean  and 
Chapter  of  Lincoln,  as  patrons  of  the  collegiate  church  of  All 
Saints.  That  there  was  a  chapel  here  in  the  Norman  period,  we 
know  from  the  old  fabric.  It  was  doubtless  served  by  a  chaplain 
appointed  by  the  college,  or  else  by  one  of  the  canons  themselves. 

The  earliest  documentary  proof  of  the  existence  of  this  chapel 
that  we  have  seen,  is  contained  in  the  Inventory  of  Church  Goods 
drawn  up  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  : — 

"Querndon,  Oct.  6.  ij  bells  in  the  steple — j  chales  of  sylver  parcel!  gilte — ij 
vestments  wherof  j  of  whyte  fustyan  the  other  paned  with  fustyan  and  crule — ij 
surplesses — j  hand  bell — j  cruet  of  tyn — j  crosse  of  wodd  covered  with  laten." 

In  1555,  when  Queen  Mary  made  her  large  grant  to  the  Bailiffs 
and  Burgessses  of  Derby  of  church  lands,  etc.,  that  had  been 
confiscated  by  Edward  VI.,  "  all  tythes  of  corn,  hay,  wool,  and 
lambs,  and  all  other  tythes  whatsoever  in  Quarndon,  in  the  tenure 
of  Eichard  Cotton,  Esq.,"  were  handed  over  to  the  town.* 

From  the  old  parish  books  of  All  Saints'  we  find  that  it  was  the 
custom,  for  a  long  period,  to  select  a  churchwarden  for  Quarndon 
at  the  Easter  vestry  meeting  of  the  mother  church.  The  first 
entry  to  that  effect  occurs  in  1617,  and  the  custom  seems  to  have 
prevailed  for  exactly  a  century — at  least,  we  have  found  no  entry 
of  that  description  later  than  1717. 

There  were  various  disputes  between  Quarndon  and  the  mother 
church  about  the  proportion  due  from  the  chapelry  for  the  repairs 
of  All  Saints'.  In  1620  it  was  decided  that  Quarndon  was  to  pay 

*  Vide  10th  section  of  the  grant. — Simpson's  History  of  Derby,  p.  68. 


108  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

one-tenth   of  the   annual   assessment.     The  following  entries  in  the 
churchwarden's  accounts  for  that  year  relate  to  this  dispute  : — • 

s.  d. 

Paid  for  4  processes  and  serving  3  on  them  of    Quarndon    and  in  Sute       ...          6 
Paid  for  a  quart  of  Sack  given  to  the  arbitrators  twixt  us  and  Quarn         ...     1    2 

In  1637  it  was  necessary  to  effect  considerable  repairs  in  the 
chancel  of  the  old  church  of  All  Saints,  when  a  further  dispute 
arose  between  the  churchwardens  and  certain  inhabitants  of  Quarn- 
don as  to  their  liability.  The  matter  was  referred  to  the  arbitration 
of  William  Allestry  and  Eichard  Brandreth,  who  gave  in  their 
award  on  April  10th.  The  churchwardens  had  already  expended 
£8  6s.  8d.,  and  the  arbitrators  say: — 

"  We  do  order  that  the  said  John  Walker,  Richard  Smyth  (and  other  inhabi- 
tants of  Quarndon)  shall  forthwith  pay  the  one  halfe  thereof  to  the  said  John 
Lowe  and  Abell  Toplisse  (churchwardens  of  All  Saints),  in  regarde  that  wee 
conceive  that  the  tythes  of  Quandon  are  of  equall  value  to  all  the  tythes,  and 
other  ecclesiastical  dutyes  ariseiuge  within  Derby,  that  belonge  to  the  rectory  of 
All  Saints,  saveinge  the  mortuaries  or  other  dutyes  that  shall  arise  or  become 
payable  for  burialls  within  the  said  Chancell.  And  for  the  avoydeinge  of  all 
further  trebles  for  anythinge  that  is  past,  we  do  order  that  the  owners  of  the 
tythes  within  Quarndon  shall  not  be  questioned  for  the  payment  of  any  thinge 
concerninge  the  reparasons  of  the  said  Chancell  for  the  tyrne  past,  but  that  for 
the  tyme  to  come  they  shall  ever  be  at  the  one  halfe  of  the  charges  to  be 
expended  about  the  same.  And  the  Churchwarden  of  Quarndon  shall  be  ac- 
quainted and  made  privey  to  the  disbursements  about  the  same,  if  hee  please. 
And  we  do  further  order  that  they  the  said  Inhabitants  of  Quarndon  shall  from 
the  tyme  of  the  date  hereof  be  allowed  unto  them,  and  shall  be  lawfull  for  them 
to  take  to  themselves  the  moyetye  of  all  such  sumes  of  money  as  shall  be 
hereafter  payed  or  due  to  be  payed  for  any  buryall  within  the  said  Chancell  in 
regard  they  are  to  be  at  the  one  half  of  the  expences  about  the  repayre  thereof, 
but  shall  for  anythinge  before  that  tyme  paid  for  any  buryalls  there  no  thinge 
shall  be  allowed  unto  them."  * 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners,  of  1650,  say : — "  Quarne  is  a 
chappel  apperteyning  (to  All  Saints)  two  myles  distant  and  maye 
conveniently  be  united  to  Kedlestone  it  lying  neare.  Mr  Joseph 
Swettnam  officiates."  The  post-Beforination  services  at  Quarndon 
chapel  seem  to  have  been  of  the  most  meagre  and  fitful  description. 
In  1697,  "  as  the  Spaw  was  frequented,"  the  Bishop  forwarded  a 
letter  to  the  clergy  of  Derby  and  the  district,  directing  that  there 
should  be  service  every  Sunday  during  the  summer  months.  It 
was  arranged  that  the  duty  should  be  shared  between  sixteen 
different  clergymen.  Their  names  were  : — "  Messrs.  Horton,  Walker, 
Osburn,  Bold,  Wilton,  Pool  of  Brailsford,  Pool  of  Mugginton, 

*  Documents  in  parish  chest,  All  Saints'. 


QUARNDON.  109 

Cuuliffe,  Ward  of  Over,  Hawford,  Greaterix  of  Hallam,  Paploe, 
Ward  of  Eatlbourne,  Cautrell,  Blackwell,  and  Horsington."  * 

Mr.  Adrian  Mundy,  who  died  23rd  April,  1677,  and  was  church- 
warden at  the  time  of  his  death,  left,  inter  alia,  £3  a  year  "  to  be 
employed  towards  the  living  of  a  minister  to  read  divine  service  at 
the  chapel,"  providing  that  the  money  was  to  be  divided  among 
the  poor  if  there  should  be  no  minister.t 

Sir  John  Curzon,  of  Kedleston,  by  will  dated  10th  May,  1725, 
endowed  a  school,  and  left  the  master,  whom  he  stated  lie  would 
have  in  orders,  £10  per  annum  to  read  prayers  and  to  preach  in 
Quarndon  chapel,  j 

In  1793  an  augmentation  of  £200  fell  by  lot  to  Quarndon  from 
Queen  Anne's  Bounty,  but  the  Governors  naturally  declined  to 
confirm  the  grant  unless  the  curate  would  agree  to  do  duty  once 
every  Sunday.  Mr.  Manlove,  vicar  of  S.  Alkmund's,  who  then 
held  this  curacy,  declined  to  accede  to  this  stipulation,  and  the 
augmentation  passed  to  another  benefice.  Mr.  Cantrell,  his  prede- 
cessor in  the  vicarage  of  S.  Alkmund's,  had  also  held  the  cure  of 
Quarndon.  §  Mr.  Cantrell,  in  1736,  purchased  some  laud  in  the 
parish  of  Markfield,  Leicestershire,  for  the  endowment  of  this  cure, 
for  the  sum  of  £400.  Half  of  this  money  was  procured  from  Mrs. 
Wills,  a  friend  of  his  first  wife's,  and  the  other  half  was  advanced 
from  Queen  Anne's  Bounty.  From  the  time  of  this  purchase  up 
to  1772,  Quarndou  baptisms  were  entered  in  the  S.  Alkmund 
registers.  In  the  latter  year  a  separate  register  book  was  pur- 
chased for  Quarndon,  which  from  the  time  of  its  endowment  in 
1736  had  come  to  be  regarded  as  a  distinct  parish.  The  marriage 
register  begins  in  1755.  There  were  no  burials  at  Quarndon  till 
1821,  when  the  churchyard  was  consecrated. 

At  the  end  of  a  Terrier  of  1751  is  the  following  inventory  : — 

"  A  True  and  Perfect  Note  of  all  and  singular  the  Goods  Books  Ornaments 
and  Utensils  belonging  to  the  Parish  and  Parish  Church  of  Quarne  in  the  County 
of  Derby  and  Diocese  of  Lichfleld  and  Coventry.  Inprimis  one  Pewter  Flaggon — 
Item  One  Chalice  with  a  Cover  of  Pewter — One  Salver  of  Pewter — One  Plate  of 

*  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  v.,  f.  163. 

f  Charity  Commissioners'  Reports  (1827),  vol.  xvii.,  p.  137.  One  branch  of  the 
Muiidy  family  had  for  a  long  period  an  estate  and  mansion  at  Quarndon.  In  default 
of  male  issue,  it  passed  by  marriage  to  Musters,  of  Colwick.  The  old  hall  stood  close 
to  the  churchyard  on  the  south  side.  There  was  much  stained  heraldic  glass  in  the 
windows.  It  was  pulled  down  by  Lord  Scarsdale  in  1812,  and  the  glass  takeii  to 
Kedleston.— Meyiiell  MSS. 

{  Charity  Commissioners'  Eeports,  vol.  xvii.,  p.  2ft7. 

§  For  these  and  other  particulars,  taken  from  the  parish  registers  of  Quarudon  we 
de-ire  to  express  our  indebtedness  to  the  Hon.  W.  M.  Jervis. 


110  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Pewter — One  Linnen  Cloth  for  the  Communion  Table  and  one  Napkin — One 
large  Bason  of  Pewter  to  be  set  upon  the  Font  Stone  at  Baptisms — One  Red 
Velvet  Pulpit  Cushion  curiously  wrought  and  one  old  Cushion — One  Holland 
Surplice — Two  Common  Prayer  Books — One  large  Bible  of  the  last  Translation — 
One  Chest — Two  Boles  (?  Bowls)  with  their  Frames." 

The  old  church  or  chapel  of  Qnarndon,  dedicated,  like  its  suc- 
cessor, to  S.  Paul,*  was  taken  down  in  1874-5,  a  new  church 
having  been  previously  erected  in  quite  another  part  of  the  village, 
at  a  cost  of  £4,000.  The  chapel  underwent  considerable  repairs  in 
1790.  From  a  south-east  view  and  a  description  taken  by  Mr. 
Eawlins  in  1824,  as  well  as  from  another  view  and  account  taken 
a  little  earlier  by  Mr.  Meynell,  we  find  that  it  then  consisted  of  a 
parallelogram,  44  ft.  7  in.  by  15  ft.  It  had  a  small  square  tower 
at  the  west  end,  not  disengaged  from  the  rest  of  the  building,  but 
risiug  out  of  the  roof  of  the  west  gable.  This  tower  was  surmounted 
by  a  short  four-sided  spire,  covered  with  lead.  There  was  a  good 
Norman  south  doorway,  and  two  projecting  heads  of  a  corbel- table 
of  that  date.  There  was  a  small  pointed  priest's  door  blocked  up, 
and  the  buttresses  at  the  angle  of  the  east  end  were  clearly  of 
Early  English  character.  The  east  window  was  a  two-light  de- 
based one  with  a  square  head,  and  there  were  three  other  windows 
of  like  style  in  the  south  wall.  Mr.  Eawlins  says  : — "  Over  the 
altar  is  a  niche,  most  probably  to  place  the  statue  of  the  Virgin  or 
tutelar  saint  in,  but  neither  is  seen  at  the  present  day."  From 
Mr.  Meynell' s  account,  we  learn  that  this  niche  was  on  the  north 
side  of  the  altar. 

About  1835  the  church  was  considerably  enlarged.  A  bell  tower 
was  added  at  the  west  end  about  the  same  time.  This  tower, 
picturesquely  mantled  in  ivy,  is  all  that  was  left  standing  when 
the  building  was  taken  down.  The  south  Norman  doorway,  which 
afforded  proof  of  the  careful  provision  of  the  church  for  the 
spiritual  needs  of  a  small  hamlet  like  Quarndon  at  least  as  early 
as  the  reign  of  Henry  I.,  though  in  fairly  good  condition,  was 
most  unfortunately  then  destroyed.  It  should  certainly  have  been 
left  standing,  or  removed  to  the  new  church. 

*  The  Liber  Regis,  and  other  authorities,  are  silent  as  to  the  dedication  of  this 
chapel,  but  there  is  an  undisputed  tradition  that  it  was  dedicated  to  S.  Paul.  We 
learn  from  the  present  vicar,  Rev.  W.  G.  Nourse,  and  also  from  Mr.  C.  Hampshire, 
whose  family  have  been  long  resident  at  Quarndon,  that  there  was  an  inscription 
mentioning  this  dedication  in  the  old  belfry.  The  wakes,  however,  are  regulated  by 
All  Saints'  day. 


EUununb'i. 


jLKMUND  was  the  son  of  Alcred,  king  of  Northumbria.  In 
774,  when  a  mere  youth,  he  was  obliged  to  fly  with  his 
father  from  the  hands  of  his  rebellious  subjects,  who  con- 
tracted a  league  with  the  Danes.  For  twenty  years  the  father  and 
son  lived  among  the  Picts,  when  his  people,  growing  tired  of  the 
tyranny  of  the  Northmen,  were  anxious  to  recall  their  former  sove- 
reign. Alkmund  put  himself  at  the  head  of  this  party,  and  won 
several  battles.  How  he  lost  his  life  is  a  matter  of  dispute  among 
his  chroniclers.  By  some  it  is  stated  that  he  was  put  to  death  by 
Ardulph,  the  reigning  prince,  in  800,  by  others  that  he  was  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Kempsford  in  that  year  ;  but  it  seems  more  pro- 
bable that  he  was  treacherously  slain  by  the  Danes  in  819.*  Be 
this  as  it  may,  he  soon  earned  the  honours  of  saint  and  martyr. 
Fuller  sneers  at  his  claim  to  sanctity,  and  his  sneers  have  been 
quoted  and  amplified  by  several  subsequent  writers ;  but  when  we 
find  so  much  uncertainty  about  even  the  mode  of  his  death,  we 
may  surely  give  our  Anglo-Saxon  ancestors  and  the  Catholic  Church 
of  those  days  some  credit  for  being  acquainted  with  details  of  his 
sanctity  that  justified  them  in  his  canonisation,  but  which  have  not 
come  down  to  our  days.  It  is  not  as  if  he  had  been  canonised, 
and  then  shortly  afterwards  dropped  into  oblivion,  as  was  some- 
times the  case  with  these  early  saints ;  for  he  was  evidently  most 
highly  esteemed  by  the  pious  of  his  countrymen,  and  his  shrine 
remained  .in  peculiar  honour  up  to  the  time  of  the  Reformation. 

S.  Alkmund  was  buried  at  Lilleshall,  in  Shropshire,  where  a 
church  was  either  built  over  his  relics,  or  else  his  body  was  placed 
in  a  church  that  previously  existed.  But  not  long  afterwards, 

*  See  Histories  of  John  of  Gla<;tonbury  and  Matthew  of  Westminster,  etc.,  etc.;  also 
Acta  Sanctorum,  Heuscheinus,  Mart.  vol.  iii.,  p.  47. 


Ill  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

through  fear  of  an  incursion  of  the  Danes,  his  remains  were  hastily 
removed,  and  translated  to  Derby,  where  he  was  honoured  on 
March  19th  (the  day  of  his  translation)  with  great  devotion  as 
patron  saint  of  the  town.  Alban  Butler  tells  us  that  an  old  MS. 
sermon  preached  in  S.  Alkmund's  Church  at  Derby,  about  the  year 
1140,  gives  a  particular  history  of  this  translation  of  his  relics  to 
Derby,  where  his  shrine  became  famous  for  miracles  and  for  the 
resort  of  pilgrims.*  Situated  close  by  the  side  of  one  of  the  most 
important  and  frequented  routes  between  the  north  and  south  of 
the  kingdom,  the  fame  of  S.  Alkmund's  shrine  appears  to  have  been 
retained  in  all  its^freshness  up  to  the  time  of  the  Reformation. 
Mr.  Cantrell,  the  vicar  of  S.  Alkmund's,  writing  to  Dr.  Pegge  on 
this  subject  in  1760,  says  : — "  Fuller  in  his  '  Worthies '  reports  of 
miracles  here — I  add  that  it  has  been  commonly  said  here  that  the 
north  countrymen  inquire  for  this  tomb,  and  rest  their  packs  upon 
it."t  A  well,  a  short  distance  to  the  north  of  the  church,  is  still 
known  by  the  name  of  "  S.  Alkmund's  well."  The  ancient  custom 
of  dressing  this  well  with  flowers  was  revived  in  1870,  and  is  now 
annually  observed,  the  clergy  and  choir  of  S.  Alkmund's  meeting 
at  the  church  and  walking  there  in  procession.  {  The  street  leading 
down  to  S.  Mary's  Bridge  past  S.  Alkmund's  formed,  until  quite  a 
recent  date,  the  northern  boundary  of  the  town.  The  well  is 
beyond  this — outside  the  walls  of  the  old  borough.  It  is  said  that 
when  the  pious  company  bearing  the  relics  of  S.  Alkmund  reached 
the  outskirts  of  the  town,  they  laid  down  their  precious  burden  by 
the  side  of  this  well,  whilst  they  treated  with  the  townspeople  for 
their  safe  admission  within  the  walls.  From  that  time  the  waters 

*  The  following  is  the  account  given  by  Butler  of  the  character  and  death  of  S. 
Alkmund  (Lives  of  the  Saints,  vol.  ii.,  p.  370) : — "  During  his  temporal  prosperity,  the 
greater  he  was  in  power  so  much  the  more  meek  and  humble  was  he  in  his  heart,  and 
so  much  the  more  affable  to  others.  He  was  poor  amidst  riches,  because  he  knew  no 
greater  pleasure  than  to  strip  himself  for  the  relief  of  the  distressed.  Being  driven 
from  his  kingdom,  together  with  his  father,  by  rebellious  subjects  in  league  with 
Danish  plunderers,  he  lived  among  the  Picts  above  twenty  years  in  banishment; 
learning  more  heartily  to  despise  earthly  vanities,  and  making  it  his  whole  study  to 
serve  the  King  of  kings.  His  subjects  groaniug  under  the  yoke  of  an  unsupportable 
tyranny,  took  up  arms  against  their  oppressors,  and  induced  the  royal  prince,  upon 
motives  of  compassion  for  their  disti'ess  and  a  holy  zeal  for  religion,  to  put  himself  at 
their  head.  Several  battles  were  prosperously  fought ;  but  at  length  the  pious  prince 
was  murdered  by  the  contrivance  of  King  Bardulf,  the  usurper,  as  Matthew  of  West- 
minster, Simeon  of  Durham,  and  Florence  of  Worcester  say."  We  have  made  every 
effort  to  trace  the  MS.  book  of  sermons  from  which  this  learned  hagiologist  quoted, 
and  have  met  with  much  courtesy  in  our  applications  in  several  quarters.  It  is  not 
in  any  of  the  Eoman  Catholic  libraries  in  this  country,  and  the  only  remaining  chance 
seems  to  be  at  the  Public  Library,  Douay.  It  was  at  Douay  that  the  Lives  of  the 
Saints  was  written. 

t  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  iii.  Mr.  Cantrell  speaks  of  having  found  two  bodies — a  man 
and  woman — under  a  tombstone  closely  adjoining  the  east  chancel  wall,  but  wisely 
adds,  that  the  body  of  S.  Alkmund  would  be  within  the  walls. 

J  It  is  rather  unfortunate  that  Whiten n  Tuesday  has  been  chosen  for  the  renewal  of 
this  observance.  It  would  surely  be  better  to  revert  to  the  historical  day — March  19th. 


s.  ALKMUND'S.  115 

of  the  well  were  blessed  with  special  curative  powers.,  and  the  well 
itself  has  been  ever  since  known  by  the  name  of  S.  Alkmund. 
Long  after  the  Eeformation,  a  belief  in  the  special  virtues  of  this 
water  lingered  in  the  minds  of  even  well-educated  people — a  belief 
not  altogether  exploded  at  the  present  day.  Mr.  Cantrell,  in  the 
letter  just  quoted,  records  how  the  late  vicar  of  S.  Werburgh's 
(Rev.  William  Lockett),  being  in  a  low  consumption,  constantly 
drank  water  of  S.  Alkmund's  well,  and  recovered  his  health. 

The  well  (font)  of  S.  Alkmund  is  mentioned  in  a  fourteenth 
century  charter,  between  the  abbey  of  Darley  and  the  hospital  of 
S.  Helen,  wherein  it  is  described  as  lying  between  the  well  of  S. 
Helen  and  a  meadow  pertaining  to  one  William  Greene.* 

The  townsfolk,  when  they  knew  that  the  relics  of  S.  Alkmund 
were  outside  their  walls,  received  the  same  with  joy,  and  the  church 
that  still  bears  his  name  was  erected  over  the  shrine.t  It  stood 
upon  the  royal  demesne,  and  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor 
was  served  by  a  colfege  of  six  priests,  who  were  endowed  with  nine 
oxgangs  of  land  in  Little  Eaton  and  Quarndou.  These  lands,  as 
we  have  already  shown,  subsequently  came  into  the  hands  of  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  Lincoln,  as  the  patrons  of  the  College  of 
All  Saints,  and  the  parish  church  became,  as  it  were,  appropriated 
to  or  amalgamated  with  that  collegiate  establishment,  and  would 
be  served  by  the  canons  of  All  Saints'.  The  statement  originally 
started  by  Hutton,  and  copied  by  ah1  subsequent  writers  on  Derby, 
that  S.  Alkmund's  was  appropriated  to  Darley  Abbey,  is  without 
any  foundation. 

S.  Alkmund's,  as  included  in  the  college  of  All  Saints,  was 
stript  of  every  fraction  of  endowment  in  the  time  of  Edward  VI. 
Queen  Mary,  when  she  made  her  magnificent  grant  to  the  bailiffs 
and  burgesses  of  Derby,  in  1555,  gave  them  the  advowson  of 
S.  Alkmuud's,  arid  stipulated  that  they  should  provide  the  vicar 
with  a  mansion  house  and  a  yearly  stipend  of  £7  6s.  8d.J  The 


*  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  f,  77. 

f  The  following  are  the  eight  English  churches  dedicated  to  this  saint: — Derby, 
Duffield,  Shrewsbury,  Ateham  and  Whitchurch  (Shropshire),  and  Bliburgh  (Lincoln). 
Aymestrey  (Hereford),  is  conjointly  dedicated  to  SS.  John  and  Alkmund ;  and  Worm- 
bridge  (Shropshire)  to  SS.  Mary  and  Alkmund. 

J  The  great  ingenuity  of  this  grant  of  Queen  Mary  to  the  town  of  Derby,  which 
resembles  several  similar  ones  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  is  worth  noting.  The 
Queen  probably  forsaw  the  reversion  of  the  national  religion  to  that  which  prevailed 
in  the  time  of  her  predecessor.  Had  she  simply  re-established  the  canons  of  All 
Saints'  and  given  them  back  their  own  lands,  they  would  again  have  lost  all,  but  by 
grants  of  lands  that  had  pertained  to  colleges  and  religious  houses,  to  bodies  of  free 
burgesses,  subject  to  the  finding  of  certain  priests,  she  interested  the  middle  class  in 
the  retention  of  these  grants  and  secured  at  all  events  some  share  of  the  plunder  to  the 
church. 


116  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

endowment  was  found  to  be  insufficient,  and  the  services  at  S. 
Alkmund  were  -very  fitful.  Woolley,  writing  in  the  reign  of  Anne, 
says  "  it  had  no  constant  preaching  in  it  of  late,"  and  Hutton  adds 
that  "in  the  reign  of  George  I.  divine  service  was  performed  but 
once  a  quarter."  Though  nominally  a  vicarage,  it  seems  not  to 
have  been  regarded  in  that  light,  and  was  often  served  by  the 
same  minister  as  All  Saints'.  In  1712,  the  living  was  materially 
augmented.  The  story  of  this  benefaction  is  thus  told  by  satirical 
Hutton  : — "  An  old  batchelor  of  the  name  of  Goodwin,  of  an 
ancient  family  in  Derby,  possessed  an  estate  of  £60  a  year.  '  How 
will  you  dispose  of  your  fortune?'  says  Mr.  Cantril,  minister  of 
S.  Alkmund's.  '  I  am  at  a  loss,'  replied  Goodwin,  '  for  I  have  no 
near  relations.'  Here,  my  dear  Eeader,  was  a  fine  opening  for 
Cantril  to  increase  his  income,  and  for  Goodwin  to  save  his  soul 
by  giving  that  property  to  pious  uses  which  he  could  keep  no 
longer.  Eloquence  is  seldom  wanting  to  promote  our  interest. 
'  My  church,'  says  the  parson,  '  stands  desolate,  instead  of  being 
a  place  of  regular  worship,  it  is  only  a  nursery  for  owls  and  bats. 
No  act  of  charity  can  surpass  that  of  promoting  religion.'  '  Then 
I  will  give  £10  per  annum  to  S.  Alkmuud's  at  my  death,' 
says  Goodwin,  'and  the  residue  at  the  death  of  my  nephew;' 
which  last  happened  about  the  year  1734."*  This  estate,  which 
has  very  largely  increased  in  value,  is  situate  at  Plumley  and 
Mosborough,  in  the  parish  of  Eckington.  The  deed  of  endow- 
ment of  Samuel  Goodwin  was  forwarded  to  the  Bishop  by  the 
mayor  and  burgesses,  with  a  prayer  that  he  would  create  S. 
Alkmund's  a  vicarage,  and  nominating  Henry  Cantrell  as  vicar. 
The  Bishop  by  letters  dated  March  5th,  1712,  constituted  S. 
Alkmund's  a  vicarage  and  instituted  Mr.  CantreU.f  Up  to  that 
date,  the  church,  like  that  of  All  Saints',  had  been  extra-episcopal. 
The  advowson  remained  with  the  Corporation  till  the  Municipal 
Reform  Act  of  1835,  when  all  such  benefices  were  sold  ;  S.  Alk- 
mund's was  purchased  by  Mr.  Jedediah  Strutt,  who  subsequently 
gave  it  the  vicar.  On  May  24th,  1877,  the  living  was  sold  at 
public  auction  in  London,  when  it  was  purchased  by  the  Simeon 
Trustees. | 

The   following    list   of    post-Reformation    vicars    or    ministers    is 
compiled  from  the  parish  registers  : — 

*  Button's  History  of  Derby,  pp.  138-9. 
+  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  xvii. 

J  For  certain  peculiar  circumstances  attending  this  sale  of  the  cure  of  souls,  see 
Purchase  in  the  Church  (Simpkiu,  Marshall,  and  Co.),  pp.  187-190. 


s.  ALKMUND'S.  117 

1539.  John  Bath,  buried  June  24th. 

1540.  Thomas  Ragge,  buried  February  19th. 

1541.  Nicholas  Jones,  buried  April  10th. 
1551.  William  Elton,  buried  September  25th. 

1556.  "  Sepultus  est  Johannes  Mariotte  pastor  hujus  Ecclesice  post  quam  sese 
laqueo  videlicit  funiculo  minim*  campanae  suspeuderat  vitamque  miseriine 
finierat  Junii  14.  Deus  dat  aliis  meliorem  gratias  mensuram.  Nota,  fregit 
campanam  corporis  gravitate  et  casu."* 

1560.  Roger  Bartholomew,  buried  May  29th. 

1560.  Dns  Moore,  appointed  this  year. 

1586.  Thomas  Swetnam.  On  the  resignation  of  Moore.  He  was  appointed 
"suffragio  et  permissu  Balivorum  tune  existeutium  Burgessorum  totius 
deuique  parochise." 

1605.  John  Hollingham. 

162  .  Henry  Coke.     He  was  deposed  in  1645. 

1658.  "Isaac  Selden,  clerke,  came  to  Derby  on  Saturday  the  14th  day  of  August 
Ano  Dni  1658,  and  by  mutual  consent  was  selected  and  chosen  Minister  of 
the  Parish  Churches  of  St.  Alkmund  and  St.  Michael's  in  Derby." 

1712.  Henry  Cantrell.  The  first  parson  of  S.  Alkmund's  instituted  by  the 
Bishop,  f 

1773.  Thomas  Manlove.    On  the  death  of  H.  C. 

1802.  Charles  Stead  Hope.     On  the  death  of  T.  M. 

1841.  Edward  Henry  Abney ;  patron,  Jedediah  Strutt. 


*  This  John  Marriott,  of  so  miserable  an  end,  was  the  dispossessed  priest  of  the 
wealthy  chantry  of  SS.  Nicholas  and  Catharine  at  Crich ;  see  our  previous  account 
of  that  church. 

f  The  following  interesting  letter  from  Rev.  Henry  Cantrell,  respecting  the  endow- 
ment and  presentation  has  been  kindly  put  into  our  hands  by  Mr.  Wallis  from  his 
private  MSS.  It  is  endorsed — "  My  own  Letter  to  my  Father  ab1  S*  Alk."  Addressed — 
To  Mr.  Cantrell  at  his  House  upon  Nun  Green  in  Derby — These. 

London  May  ye  8th  1711. 
"  Honour'd  Father  and  Mother 

"  In  my  last  I  told  you  I  should  give  an  account  of  my  interview  with  my  Ld  Keeper. 
The  Reverend  The  Dean  introduced  me  to  his  Lordship,  who  receiv'd  me  (upon  The 
Dean's  recommendation)  wth  abundance  of  civility,  and  has  declar'd  me  The  Vicar  of 
S1  Alkmuuds,  and  given  all  imaginable  assurance  that  the  presentation  shall  be 
transmitted  to  me  upon  Mr.  Goodwin's  endowment. 

"  The  reason  why  it  is  not  now  put  into  my  hands  is,  because  should  I  now  receive  it 
as  a  donative,  I  must  be  obliged,  after  th'  endowment,  to  take  out  another  presentation 
as  a  Vicarage.  This  is  so  plainly  irade  appear  to  me  y*  I  am  very  well  satisfy 'd.  All 
yt  remains,  therefore,  is  yl  my  good  friend  Mr.  Goodwin  should  settle  what  he  intends, 
and  ye  sooner  the  better — for  my  Ld  tells  me  y*  as  soon  as  he  hears  it  is  done,  all  shall 
be  connrm'd  here. 

"  The  Dean  designs  to  write  to  Mr.  Goodwin  to  give  him  account  what  progress  is 
made  in  this  affair  and  w*  great  approbation  his  pious  design  meets  with.  I  have  by 
the  advice  of  The  Dean  wrote  a  letter  to  Dr.  Goodwin  Archdeacon  of  Derby,  request- 
ing him  to  acquaint  The  Bishop  with  the  intended  endowment,  y*  He  may  give  notice 
to  his  officers  to  have  all  Instruments  ready  at  Derby  at  the  Visitation ;  Sunday  next 
I  am  to  preach  for  The  Dean  and  then  I  design  to  set  out  for  home. 

"  I  am  very  glad  y*  I  came  to  town,  for  otherwise  this  business  had,  in  all  probability, 
been  as  far  from  being  settled  as  ever;  but  I  must  say  The  Dean  and  Mr.  Willes  (a) 
have  been  at  a  vast  deal  of  trouble  about  it  which  was  occasioned  by  the  great  opposi- 
tion L.  C.  J.  P.  (b)  made ;  but  he  is  now  in  a  better  mind,  and  has  promised  The 
Dean  he  will  not  offer  to  hinder  it  any  longer. 

"  Pray  present  my  respects  to  Mr.  Goodwin,  and  Mr.  Parker  (c),  and  the  rest  of  my 
good  friends  and  accept  ye  same 

from  yr  dutiful  Son 

Hen  :  Cantrell." 

(a)  Mr.   Willes,  son  of  the  late  minister  of  All  Saints',  the  Rev.  Samuel  Willes.    There  is  n 
monument  to  his  memory  in  this  church. 

(b)  L.  C.  J.  P. — Lord  Chief  Justice  Parker,  afterwards  Earl  of  Macclesfield,  who  rssided  in  Bridge 
Gate  near  the  bridge  foot. 

(c)  Benjamin  Parker  married  Lucy,  dau.  of  Rev.  S.  Willes.     She  died    6y6  in  the  ilst  year  of  her 
age. 


118  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

In  1841  it  was  most  unfortunately  resolved  to  pull  down  the 
venerable  old  church,  and  to  build  a  new  one  on  the  site.  At  first 
it  was  intended  to  retain  at  all  events  the  lower  part  of  the  old 
tower,  but  it  was  found  to  be  too  insecure  to  support  new  work. 
The  last  service  in  the  old  building  was  on  the  evening  of  January 
1st,  1844,  when  a  "  Grand  selection  of  sacred  music  by  the  Derby 
Choral  Society  "  was  performed,  admission  sixpence.  The  work  of 
demolition  commenced  immediately  afterwards.  On  February  20th 
of  that  year  the  Committee  resolved  that  the  west  face  of  the  tower 
of  the  new  church  should  project  10  ft.  6  in.  beyond  the  exterior 
projection  of  the  buttresses  of  the  old  tower,  and  that  the  increased 
length  be  appropriated  for  a  chancel.  By  this  lengthening  of  the 
church  the  principal  view  of  the  beautiful  tower  of  S.  Mary's — the 
Eoman  Catholic  church  erected  a  few  years  before,  and  one  of  the 
most  successful  efforts  of  Pugin — was  effectually  concealed  ;  and  it 
is  creditable  to  the  good  sense  and  taste  of  Derby  that  this  unne- 
cessary obstruction  of  a  real  work  of  art,  though  unfortunately 
carried  out,  met  with  much  opposition.* 

The  first  stone  of  the  present  building  was  laid  on  May  6th. 
The  new  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  £7000,  exclusive  of 
the  spire,  which  cost  another  £700. 

We  have  been  able  to  get  together  various  particulars  relative  to 
the  old  building  from  different  sources.  It  consisted  of  a  nave,  with 
side  aisles  and  south  porch;  a  chancel;  and  a  tower  at  the  west 
end,  not  disengaged  from  the  building,  but  open  to  the  aisles  and 
nave  by  three  pointed  arches.  The  dimensions,  as  taken  by  Mr. 
Eawlins  in  1826,  were : — Nave,  63  ft.  7  in.  by  17  ft. ;  south  aisle, 
63  ft.  7  in.  by  12  ft.  9  in.  ;  north  aisle,  the  same  length  by  10  ft. 
8  in. ;  and  chancel,  34  ft.  3  in.  by  12  ft.  4  in.  From  woodcuts  in  the 
works  of  Hutton  and  Glover,  and  from  drawings  made  by  Messrs. 
Meynell  and  Eawlins,  we  find  that  the  external  characteristics  of 
the  building  were  almost  entirely  of  the  Perpendicular  period. 
The  nave,  aisles,  and  tower  had  all  embattled  parapets.  The  tower 
had  double  belfry  windows  on  each  side.  The  three  pointed 
windows  of  the  south  aisle  and  the  east  chancel  window  were 
filled  with  Perpendicular  tracery  ;  and  the  square-headed  east 
window  of  the  south  aisle,  of  the  south  side  of  the  chancel,  and 
the  clerestory  windows  were  of  the  same  style.  The  embattled 

*  The  present  Lord  Belper,  then  member  for  Derby,  was  a  warm  opponent  of  this 
change  of  plan — which  was  rightly  or  wrongly  regarded  as  a  piece  of  Protestant 
spite — and  withdrew  his  subscription  of  i'2(JO,  dividing  it  between  the  Derby  In- 
firmary and  the  Derby  British  Schools. 


s.  ALKMUND'S.  119 

porch  seems  also  to  have  been  of  that  date.  Hutton's  view  (1798) 
shows  a  crocketed  pinnacle  on  the  apex  of  the  porch,  and  two 
crosses  on  the  respective  gables  of  the  nave  and  chancel.  Eawlins' 
sketch  (1826)  shows  a  large  niche  over  the  porch  doorway,  and  also 
a  doorway  through  one  of  the  lights  of  the  south  aisle  window 
nearest  the  east,  access  to  which  was  gained  by  a  flight  of  three 
steps:  this  probably  was  the  approach  to  a  south  gallery.  The  nave, 
according  to  Mr.  Eawlins,  was  separated  from  the  aisles  on  each 
side  by  three  pointed  arches  supported  on  "  circular  columns  with 
capitals  of  the  Doric  order."  From  this  description  it  seems  pos- 
sible that  the  pillars  were  Norman,  and  the  rounded  arches  subse- 
quently replaced  by  pointed  ones.  Another  account  tells  us  that 
there  were  several  Norman  details  about  the  church,  especially  in 
the  chancel.* 

But  the  brief  account  given  of  this  church  by  Sir  Stephen 
Glynn,  circa  1830,  is  clearly  the  most  correct.  We  reproduce  it 
verbatim  from  his  MSS.  : — 

"  This  church  is  principally  Bectilinear,  and  consists  of  a  west  tower,  a  nave 
with  side  aisles,  and  a  chancel.  The  tower  is  embattled,  with  double  belfry  win- 
dows, and  stands  engaged  with  the  aisles  ;  it  has  also  on  each  side  a  square- 
headed  window  ranging  with  those  of  the  clerestory.  The  nave,  aisles,  and  south 
porch  are  all  embattled,  and  the  buttresses  on  the  north  side  surmounted  by  pin- 
nacles. The  chancel  is  finely  mantled  with  ivy.  The  nave  is  divided  from  each 
aisle  by  three  pointed  arches,  with  circular  piers  having  square  capitals,  appa- 
rently modern.  The  tower  opens  to  the  nave  and  to  the  side  aisles  by  three  good 
pointed  arches  with  mouldings  carried  all  down.  The  windows  of  the  aisles  and 
of  the  chancel  are  late  Rectilinear,  those  of  the  clerestory  square-headed.  The 
chancel  arch  springs  from  octagonal  shafts  resting  on  heads.  In  the  chancel, 
south  of  the  altar,  are  two  mutilated  stalls  of  Norman  work,  the  shaft  having  a 
good  sculptured  capital  and  square  base.  There  is  an  organ  in  the  west  gallery, 
and  at  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  a  rich  alabaster  tomb  with  arabesque  cor- 
nice and  sculptured  figures.  The  font  is  an  octagon,  with  panneliug." 

At  the  time  of  the  Herald's  Visitation,  in  1611,t  the  arms  of 
Mackworth  (per  pale,  indented,  sab.  and  erm.,  a  chevron,  gu,  fretty, 
or)  appeared  twice  in  the  windows.  There  was  also  a  monument, 
on  which  were  the  arms  of  Lister  (erm.,  on  a  fesse,  sab.,  three 
mullets,  <m/.)  impaling  ary.,  a  bend,  sab.,  and  the  following 
inscription  : — 

"  Anthony  Lister  gentleman,  and  Alice  his  wife,  they  had  issue  Henry  Lister, 
which  Anthony  died  the  30  day  of  November  1592,  and  Alice  his  wife  who  died 
A°  Dni  1600,  and  left  4  souues  and  4  daughters,  viz*  Anthony,  Henry,  Richard, 
William,  Alice,  Elizabeth,  Ellen,  Mary." 

*  Bagshaw's  Gazetteer  of  Derbyshire,  p.  54. 
t  Harl.  MSS.  148(5  f.  10    58uy,  f.  12 ;  1098,  f.  7b. 


120  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

Alice,  the  wife  of  Anthony,  was  the  daughter  of  William  Trub- 
shawe,  of  Thurvaston,  and  the  impaled  arms  given  above  are  not 
those  of  that  family.  The  coat  was  borne  by  at  least  a  dozen  dif- 
ferent families.  John  Lister,  the  father  of  Anthony,  married  the 
heiress  of  Meysham,  of  Little  Eaton,  and  it  may  betoken  that 
marriage.  The  family  of  Lister  held  lands  at  Little  Eaton  at  an 
early  date.  There  are  eight  generations  given  in  the  Visitation 
pedigree  of  1611,  concluding  with  John,  son  and  heir  of  Anthony, 
son  of  Anthony  of  the  monument,  then  aged  9.*  The  monument 
of  Lister  has  quite  disappeared. 

Mr.  Cantrell,  writing  in  1760,  says,  "  there  was  painted  glass  in 
the  windows,  which  has  been  taken  away  by  the  glasiers,"  and 
specifies  "a  woman  veiled  in  the  belfry,"  and  "in  the  east  window 
over  the  altar  a  beautiful  head  with  a  mitre  upon  it."  He 
describes  roses  as  being  represented  in  various  parts  of  the  building, 
in  stone  over  the  belfry  window  and  on  the  font,  and  in  wood  on 
the  old  seat  doors  and  on  the  roof  of  the  nave,  where  they  were 
gilded  and  picked  out  with  white,  "  which  perhaps  may  signify  that 
the  roof  at  least  was  laid  on  in  the  time  of  the  contest  for  the 
Crown  between  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster."  It  certainly 
seems  as  if  the  church  had  been  rebuilt  throughout  in  the  time  of 
Henry  VII.  He  also  adds  : — ' '  I  cannot  omit  to  mention  that 
when  the  old  seats  were  taken  away  and  new  ones  erected,  soon 
after  my  induction  (1713),  several  old  pieces  of  money  were  found 
in  the  dust,  with  the  effigy  of  a  king,  and,  as  I  remember,  in 
Saxon  characters."  Cantrell  further  noticed  the  altar  tomb  to 
John  Bullock,  of  Parley  Abbey,  which  then  stood  in  the  quire  f  at 
the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle.  This  family  was  a  younger 
branch  of  the  Bullocks  of  Unston.  After  the  dissolution  of  the 
abbey,  the  site  was  granted  to  Sir  William  West,  who  built  himself 
a  residence  out  of  the  conventual  buildings.  His  son  sold  it  to 
John  Bullock  in  1574,  and  the  Bullocks  resided  there  for  about 
eighty  years.  This  tomb  now  stands  at  the  west  end  of  the  south 
aisle  of  the  new  church.  On  it  rests  the  effigy  in  alabaster  of  a 
man  in  a  long  gown  with  a  book  in  his  left  hand.  The  head  is 

*  Harl.  MSS.  5,809,  f .  4b ;  1,486,  f .  3b.  Of  the  children  mentioned  on  the  monument, 
Anthony  married  Elena,  eldest  daughter  of  Edmund  Parker,  of  Little  Eaton;  Henry 
married  the  daughter  of  Kempe,  second  officer  of  the  King's  Bench,  and  resided  at 
Hathersage ;  Eichard  resided  at  Sheffield  ;  and  the  three  daughters,  Alice,  Eliza- 
beth, and  Mary,  married  respectively  Wydmerpole,  of  Wydmerpole,  Notts.  ;  Brian 
Dawson,  of  King's  Newton ;  and  William  Leigh,  of  Egginton. 

t  From  this  expression  it  would  seem  that  the  east  end  of  this  aisle  was  divided 
from  the  rest  of  the  church  by  a  screen  or  parclose. 


s.  ALKMUND'S.  121 

a  good  deal  attenuated.  On  two  panels  in  front  of  the  tomb  was 
formerly  a  long  inscription  in  gold  letters,  but  it  was  illegible  even 
in  Bassano's  time  (1710).  John  Bullock,  according  to  the  register, 
was  buried  October  13th,  1607.  On  the  north  end  of  the  tomb 
are  the  arms  of  Bullock  (Erm.,  a  chief,  gu.,  a  label  of  five  points, 
or)  impaling  a  fesse  engrailed  between  six  cross  crosslets,  and  the 
crest,  a  sheaf  of  battleaxes  encircled  by  a  mural  crown.  Bassano 
noted  near  to  this  tomb  an  alabaster  stone,  not  now  extant,  on 
which  was  inscribed  : — 

" '  Here  lyeth  Elizabeth,  late  wife  of  John  Bullock,  of  Darley,  Esq.,  which 
Elizabeth  dyed  the  llth  day  of  August  1582.  She  had  issue  3  sons  and  '6 
daughters,  2  of  which  daughters  dyed  before  her,  and  lye  here  by  their  uncle : 
Elizabeth  was  daughter  of  William  Pireson,  of  London,  and  Anne  his  wife, 
daughter  of  William  Carkerke,  Gent :  William  and  Anne  had  issue  5  sons  and  3 
daughters.  Anne  after  married  Sir  Thomas  Chamberlayne,  Knight,  and  had  issue 
by  him  one  son.'  Upon  the  face  of  the  stone  is  a  verse  of  God's  word.  Job.  ix. 
19.  And  under  it  '  Vincet  (?)  post  funera  virtus.'  " 

The  rest  of  the  tombs,  which  chiefly  occupy  the  west  ends  of  the 
aisles  of  the  new  clmrch,  are  of  comparatively  modern  date  and  of 
no  special  interest. 

In  the  vestry,  on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel,  is  the  following 
inscription,  which  used  to  be  in  the  middle  aisle  opposite  the 
pulpit  : — 

"Whereas  for  near  fifty  years  Divine  Service  hath  been  seldom  performed  in 
this  parish  church  for  want  of  a  sufficient  maintenance  to  support  a  resideing 
Minister,  the  evil  consequences  whereof  Mr.  Samuel  Goodwin  of  this  parish, 
piously  considering  hath  procured  the  Church  to  be  made  a  Vicaridge  and 
endowed  it  with  an  estate  in  the  parish  of  Eckington  in  this  county  upward  of 
the  annual  sum  of  fourty  pounds,  and  also  with  a  house  in  the  parish  of  St. 
Werburgh.  This  is  therefore  set  up  with  the  concurring  voice  of  the  Parishioners 
to  be  an  eternal  monument  of  their  gratitude,  and  to  inform  posterity  hereof,  that 
his  memory  may  be  always  blessed  among  'em  as  we  pray  he  may  for  ever  be  in 
the  kingdom,  of  heaven  MDCCXII." 

The  old  font,  with  the  usual  lack  of  taste  and  reverence,  was 
removed  from  the  church  when  demolished,  and  has  ever  since 
served  as  an  ornamental  vase  in  the  vicarage  garden.  It  is  of 
rather  small  size,  and  octagon  shape,  three  sides  of  which  are  in 
very  good  preservation.  From  the  arches  sculptured  on  its  sides, 
and  from  the  general  mouldings,  we  take  it  to  be  of  fourteenth 
century  date.* 

But  by  far  the  most  interesting  details  that  were  brought  to 
light  during  the  work  of  demolition,  were  several  stones,  built  into 

*  The  He.liquary,  vol.  xi.,  p.  109,  gives  a  wood-cut  of  this  font.  The  Tudor  roses 
on  this  font,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Cautrell,  have  been  by  error  omitted  by  the  engraver, 
and  small  lancets  inserted. 


122  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

the  window -jambs,  doorways,  etc.,  which  undoubtedly  pertained  to 
the  original  Saxon  church.  (Plate  V.)  One  of  these  seems  to  be 
the  lower  limb  of  a  finial  or  gable  cross  ;  it  is  a  massive  stone  of 
sexagon  shape,  and  each  side  (excepting  one  that  has  been 
subsequently  dressed  smooth)  has  a  knot-work  pattern  sculptured 
upon  it  (fig.  rt).  Two  other  pieces  have  pertained  to  a  church-yard 
cross,  much  after  the  fashion  of  the  one  now  standing  at  Hope  ;* 
it  must  have  been  quite  twelve  feet  above  the  ground,  and  an 
exceptionally  fine  cross  when  perfect  (figs,  b  and  c).  The  largest 
piece  is  86  in.  long,  and  tapers  on  the  wide  side  from  16  in.  to 
13  in.,  and  on  the  narrow  sides  from  13  in.  to  10  in.  The 
ornaments  of  these  fragments  consist  exclusively  of  various  inter- 
laced patterns  and  chimerical  animals.  These  stones  are  at  the 
Derby  Museum.  A  piece  of  another  cross,  on  one  side  of  which 
were  two  figures,  perhaps  intended  for  the  Annunciation,  and  on 
the  other  a  Virgin  and  Child,  was  cut  in  two,  and  the  parts 
built  into  the  new  porch.  The  Virgin  holds  a  most  singular 
instrument  in  her  right  hand,  of  which  we  can  give  no  explana- 
tion (fig.  d).  The  two  most  interesting  and  unique  stones  seem  to 
have  been  lost,  but  there  is  a  cast  of  one  of  them  in  the  Museum, 
and  drawings  were  given  in  an  early  number  of  the  Journal  of 
the  Archaeological  Association,^  the  more  remarkable  of  which  is 
reproduced  on  our  plate  (fig.  e).  These  conical  capitals,  about  a 
foot  square,  must  have  pertained  to  some  small  arch,  or  probably 
arched  recess,  and  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  they  may 
have  formed  a  sort  of  canopied  niche  at  the  back  of  the  high 
altar,  upon  which  would  most  likely  rest  the  movable  shrine 
encasing  the  relics  of  S.  Alkmuud.  The  cross  on  the  side  of  one 
of  the  capitals  should  be  compared  with  one  on  a  slab  at  Alvaston 
(Plate  VI.)  Another  cast  of  a  missing  stone  is  part  of  a  third 
cross  of  freer  pattern  (fig.  /).  These  stones  are  all  of  a  coarse 
reddish  gritstone. 

In  the  churchyard,  by  the  vestry  door,  is  another  interesting 
memorial  of  the  old  church,  which  was  found  in  the  foundation  of 
the  chancel.  It  is  a  massive  tapering  stone,  6  ft.  G  in.  long,  by 
27  in.  at  the  head,  and  17  in.  at  the  foot,  and  10  in.  thick.  The 
upper  surface  is  smooth,  but  both  sides  are  carved  with  a  plain 
arcade  of  Norman  arches.  Its  date  seems  to  be  of  the  early  Nor- 
man period,  temp.  William  I.  or  II.  Both  the  ends  are  plain  ;  so 

*  See  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  plate  XII. 
t  Vol.  ii.,  p.  87. 


PLATE   v 


s.  ALKMUND'S.  123 

that  it  probably  fitted  into  a  low  sepulchral  arch  within  the  wall, 
and  formed  the  substantial  lid  of  a  stone  coffin,  in  which  rested 
the  remains  of  a  founder,  or  rather  of  a  rebuilder  of  the  original 
Saxon  Church.  This  stone  has  been  erroneously  spoken  of  as 
"  the  shrine  of  S.  Alkmund ;"  but  this  is  an  obvious  misnomer, 
for  not  only  is  it  some  two  centuries  later  in  date  than  the  time 
when  S.  Alkmund's  relics  were  brought  to  Derby,  but  the  shrine 
of  a  saint,  properly  speaking,  was  a  portable  coffer  containing  his 
relics,  which  at  certain  times  was  carried  in  procession.  It  is, 
however,  just  possible  that  the  shrine  may  have  been  placed  on 
this  stone,  within  a  recess,  when  the  church  was  rebuilt  in  the 
Norman  epoch.  But  it  is  much  more  likely  that  the  bones  of 
S.  Alkmund  would  be  placed,  if  buried,  immediately  beneath  the 
high  altar  ;  or,  if  in  a  portable  shrine,  within  a  coffer  immediately 
over  or  resting  on  that  altar ;  for  it  should  be  remembered  that 
this  church  was  originally  built  for  the  safe  custody  of  his  relics, 
and  did  not  subsequently  become  possessed  of  them. 

From  an  old  Parish  Book  of  S.  Alkmuud's,  extending  from  1698 
to  1783,  some  interesting  details  relative  to  the  structure  and  sur- 
rounding of  the  church  and  parish  can  be  gleaned. 

In  1712  "the  Vicar  with  some  persons  did  perambulate  the 
Liberties  of  Little  Eaton  without  consent  of  the  Churchwardens  ;" 
so  that  it  was  resolved  that  this  should  not  be  regarded  as  a  pre- 
cedent, and  that  hereafter  they  will  not  be  liable  for  any  charge 
unless  previous  consent  has  been  given  at  a  regular  parish  meeting. 
In  1719  it  was  resolved  that  "when  the  Parson  and  Churchwar- 
dens have  a  mind  to  goe  the  Perambulation,"  they  should  only 
have  5s.  to  spend  at  Darley  Hill,  provided  they  went  every  year, 
but  15s.  if  they  went  only  once  in  three  years.* 

At  a  parish  meeting,  held  March  7th,  1738,  it  was  ordered  that 
a  letter  should  be  written  to  the  Bishop,  representing  "  that  ye 
Trees  lately  planted  by  Mr.  Cantrell  in  ye  Churchyard  very  much 
darken  ye  Church  and  straiten  ye  Burying  Ground,  and  y*  ye  other 
trees  are  got  so  large  y*  Books  build  in  them  and  are  a  great 
nuisance  to  ye  inhabitants  in  ye  Churchyard  and  ye  people  y*  pass 
through  it  being  a  great  thorofair  wcb  ye  sd  Mr.  Cantrell  will  not 
suffer  to  be  remidied  and  threatens  the  Churchwardens  if  they 


*  Cantrell,  writing  to  Dr.  Pegge  about  Darley  Abbey,  in  1760,  says  : — "  Tradition 
speaks  of  a  church  to  S.  Mary  near  the  Abbey,  but  outside,  long  since  demolished,  but 
some  of  the  ruins  were  visible  in  my  recollection.  At  every  perambulation  it  was 
the  custom  to  read  a  gospel  and  sing  a  psalm  at  this  spot,  as  in  this  very  year  in 
Eogation  week."  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  iii. 


124  DERBYSHIRE  CHURCHES. 

presume  to  meddle."  An  order  of  the  Chancellor's  Court  at  Lich- 
field,  dated  December  1st,  1741,  directed  that  three  elm  trees  on 
the  west  side  of  the  church,  four  on  the  south,  and  two  on  the 
east  should  be  "  lopped  cult  and  crop'd  "  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
prevent  them  being  rookeries  ;  and  that  the  twenty  lime  trees  on 
the  south  side,  planted  a  few  years  ago  by  Mr.  Cantrell,  should  be 
taken  up  with  as  little  damage  as  may  be,  and  "  delivered  to  the 
Vicar  if  he  would  have  them,  and  otherwise  to  apply  them  to  any 
parochial  use." 

Mr.  Cantrell,  during  his  long  occupancy  of  this  vicarage,  seems 
to  have  been  remarkably  litigious.  We  know  from  other  sources 
with  what  warmth  and  lack  of  judgment  he  threw  himself  into  the 
quarrel  between  Dr.  Hutchinson  and  the  Corporation,  and  this 
book  bears  witness  that  he  was  for  ever  at  loggerheads  with  his 
parishioners,  about  every  conceivable  detail  of  parochial  and  minis- 
terial rights,  such  as  the  choice  of  parish  clerk,  the  election  of 
churchwardens,  the  distribution  of  the  offertory  money,  and  the 
appropriation  of  seats. 

From  a  minute  of  the  year  1710,  about  keeping  the  leads  and 
windows  in  repair,  it  appears  that  one  part  of  the  church,  which 
was  excepted  from  the  general  agreement,  was  known  as  "Darley 
Quire."  This  must  have  been  at  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle. 
In  1729  one  Thomas  Hall,  of  Longford,  agreed,  in  consideration 
of  £6  10s.  and  the  old  clock,  to  make  "  an  absolute  good  and 
substantial  Clock  and  Iron  Frame  as  good  as  can  or  need  to  be 
made  to  go  28  hours  and  to  sett  the  Two  Fingers  to  go  Eight," 
etc.  There  is  an  entry  in  1721  appointing  a  committee  to  assist 
the  churchwardens  about  "  buildinge  and  finishing  the  steeple,"  but 
this  can  only  refer  to  some  repairs,  perhaps  of  an  extensive 
character ;  for  the  tower  or  steeple,  at  the  time  of  its  demolition, 
undoubtedly  pertained  to  the  Perpendicular  period. 

The  present  tower  contains  a  ring  of  eight  bells,  thus  lettered  :— 

I.  and  II.  "  C.  &  G.  Mears,  founders,  London,  1846.  This  bell 
was  added  by  voluntary  subscription  on  the  rebuilding  of  the 
Parish  Church  A.D.  1846.  The  following  were  the  building  Com- 
mittee, The  Eev.  Edward  Henry  Abney  B.A.  Vicar,  Henry  Cox, 
John  Harrison,  John  Whitehurst,  James  Thomason,  John  Johnson, 
John  Gamble,  William  Smith  ;  George  Bridgart,  William  Stevenson, 
Churchwardens." 

III.  "  C.  &  G.  Mears,  founders,  London.  The  old  Parish  Church 
was  taken  down  A.D.  1844,  and  rebuilt  by  voluntary  subscription 


s.  ALKMUND'S.  125 

A.D.  1846.     The  Eev.  Edw.  Heiiry  Abuey  B.A.   Vicar,  John  Gamble, 
Joseph  Walker,  Churchwardens." 

IV.  "  God    save    oure    Church,"    and    the    bell-mark    of    Henry 
Oldfield. 

V.  "Eccho  dulcis   sonans  jam  voco  jarnque  veni    1588.      Eecast 
1846  by  C.  &  G.  Mears,  London." 

VI.  "  Ut  tuba  sic   resono    ad    templa   venite  pii   1586,"   and   the 
bell-mark  of  Henry  Oidfield. 

VII.  "All  glori  be  to  God  on  high,  1624." 

VIII.  "J.    Taylor    &    Co.,    Bell    founders,    Loughborough,    1872. 
Eecast  1872.      Edward  Henry  Abney  B.A.  Vicar,  Walter  G.  Cope- 
stake,  Frank  Campion,  Churchwardens." 

The  inscription  on  the  last  bell  used  to  be — ' '  Triuitate  sacra 
fiat  hec  campana  beata." 

The  registers  of  S.  Alkmund's  begin  in  1538  ;  the  oldest  volume 
is  a  neat  parchment  book  extending  from  that  date  to  1751,  but 
the  real  date  of  the  book  is  1598,  the  entries  prior  to  that  date 
having  been  copied  from  an  older  one.  Ninety-one  persons  died 
of  the  plague  in  this  parish,  between  February  2nd,  1592,  and 
October  4th,  1 593,  and  there  were  nine  deaths  from  the  same 
cause  in  1637.*  Several  entries  occur  shortly  after  the  Eeforma- 
tion,  in  which  the  interred  person  is  described  as  "Presbiter." 
They  were  probably  dispossessed  chantry  priests,  or  monks  of  some 
of  the  dissolved  abbeys  and  priories.  One  of  them,  Thomas  Har- 
rison, who  died  in  1558,  will  be  found  in  the  roll  of  Philip  and 
Mary  (Appendix  I.)  as  a  pensioned  monk  of  Darley.  The  following 
are  some  of  the  more  interesting  excerpts  : — t 

1597.  Concessit  fato  Johannes  Wooddiwisse  servnlus  pv8B_CestrisB,  non  sepultus, 
quia  laqueo  seipsu  suspendit.  Deus  dat  aliis  meliore  gratia,  Apr.  3. 

1601.  An  account  of  the  fall  of  S.  Werburgh's  tower ;  see  the  description  of  that 
church. 

1620.  A  certayne  prisoner  brought  into  ye-gaole  and  guarded  ....  comming  over 
the  Mary  bridge  leapte  over  into  the  water  and  drowde  himselfe  and  was 
buried  by  the  highwayside  close  at  the  foote  of  the  bridge,  June  28. 

1624.  Mense  Augusti  Campanarium  J  Sanct'  Alkmundi  denuo  reconditum  est,  et 
Campana  quarta  refusta.  Henrico  Coke  ministro,  Thoma  Burne  et  Samuel 
Storer  CEconomis,  Roberto  Caddow  et  Josepho  Eeeve  operariis  et  fiuitum 
est  opus  integrum  decimo  quarto  die  ejusdem  meusis  Augusti  1624,  quo  die 
Rex  Jacobus  una  cum  Carolo  Principe  villam  Derbeyam  in  progressu 
iutraverunt  et  duos  noctes  in  eadem  villa  .  .  .  tantes. 

*  See  previous  notes  on  All  Saints'  registers. 

t  The  readers  who  desire  to  know  more  of  these  registers  should  refer  to  the  able 
and  exhaustive  articles  thereon,  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  W.  Beresford,  in  vols.  x.,  xi., 
and  xii.  of  the  Reliquary.  We  desire  here  to  express  our  obligations  to  Mr.  Beresford 
for  much  information  that  he  has  kindly  placed  at  our  disposal. 

I  I.e.  the  belfry  or  bell  chamber,  not  the  tower. 


126  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1632.  19  March.  Whereas  Katherine  y6  wife  of  Nathanael  Bate  of  Little  Chester, 
within  ye  parish  of  St  Alkmund's,  Derby,  being  great  with  child  and  (by 
reason  of  her  health)  infirm  and  weak,  and  therefore  not  able  to  feed  upon 
fish  meats  without  apparent  damage  (as  I  am  credibly  informed)  I  doe 
therefore  by  these  presents  permit  (so  farr  forth  as  by  the  statutes  of  the 
kingdom  I  may)  unto  y6  said  K.  B.  to  provide  for  herself  and  to  feed  upon 
such  flesh  meates,  as  by  the  said  statute  are  licensed,  in  this  case  during 
all  ye  time  of  her  sicknesse  and  noe  longer.  In  Witnesse  whereof  I  have 
hereunto  set  my  hand — H.  Coke,  Minister  and  Preacher  of  the  Word  of  God 
in  the  parish  of  St  Alkmund's  aforesaid.  Test.  Thomse  Nash.* 
679.  Bur.  Margaret  James,  who  drowned  herself  in  Darley  mill  close,  and  was 
found  floating  upon  ye  water  y*  same  day  with  her  undercoat  tyed  about 
her  hammes.  God  give  others  better  grace. 

1721.  Aug.  30.  Bur.  Jane  Cressop,  who  was  killed  by  the  Coloquintida,  or  Bitter 
Apple,  which  she  had  taken  to  procure  an  abortion.  God  give  others  better 
grace. 

1740.  Dec.  27.  Bap.  by  hypothetical  Baptism,  George  Willincote,  a  convert  from 
schism. 


*  On  the  following  day.  a  similar  license  was  granted  to  John  Bullock,  of  Darley 
Abbey,  being  "  somethinge  diseased "  as  ''  certified  by  y8  judgement  of  a  learned 
Phisitiau."  T.  Nash  was  one  of  the  churchwardens. 


LITTLE    EATON.  127 


of  UtttU 


jHEEE  was  an  old  chapel  at  Little  Eaton  dedicated  to 
S.  Paul.  The  Parliamentary  Commissioners,  of  1650, 
say  : — "  Little  Eaton  is  a  member  [of  S.  Allan uud's]  two 
myles  distant,  fitt  to  be  united  to  Birdsall,  an  augmentason  of  the 
Deaues  farme  in  Chester,  Eaton,  and  Quarne  sequestered  from 
John  Bullocke  granted  by  the  Lords  and  Commons,  worth  three 
score  pounds  per  annum  for  the  maintenance  of  these  two  last 
mencioned  Churches  untill  further  order." 

A  terrier  of  S.  Alkmund's,  of  the  year  1735,  in  the  handwriting 
of  the  vicar,  Mr.  Cantrell,  says  : — "  There  is  a  chapel  at  Little 
Eaton  in  this  parish;  the  church  [?  chancel]  part  is  in  good  repair, 
but  the  other  in  a  decaying  condition.  From  the  fair  font  now 
standing  in  it,  and  from  other  considerable  circumstances,  it 
appears  to  have  been  a  considerable  place,  but  it  is  now  profaned, 
as  also  is  the  chapel-yard,  and  converted  to  a  private  use,  and 
now  in  the  possession  of  Simon  Degge  Esq.,  or  his  under  tenant." 
The  existence  of  a  font  proves  that  the  chapel  had  baptismal  rights 
attached  to  it  at  an  early  date,  but  it  does  not  appear  to  have 
possessed  any  rights  of  sepulture  until  the  building  of  the  new 
church. 

Writing  in  1760,  Mr.  Cantrell  again  mentions  the  chapel  as  being 
in  a  ruinous  condition.  For  a  long  time  it  was  actually  used  as 
a  blacksmith's  shop,  but  in  1791  it  was  taken  down,  and  a  new 
chapel,  on  a  small  scale,  built  in  its  place.  Mr.  Eawlins  (1821) 
gives  its  dimensions  as  35  ft.  10  in.  by  19  ft.  11  in.  The  only 


128  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

entrance  was  under  a  gallery  at  the  west  end.  "  At  the  east  end 
is  placed  the  altar  in  a  circular  recess."  Mr.  Rawlins'  drawing 
shows  two  circular-headed  windows  on  the  south  side,  a  shallow 
apse  at  the  end,  and  a  wooden  bell-turret  on  the  west  gable.  This 
chapel  was  enlarged  in  1837,  but  the  present  building,  a  rather 
feeble  imitation  of  the  Norman  style,  consisting  of  nave,  aisles, 
chancel,  and  west  tower,  though  on  a  small  scale,  was  built  in 
1851.  There  is  a  single  bell,  bearing  the  date  1791,  but  no  other 
lettering  or  ornament. 


.  iBfrfarl's. 


SElfcagfon. 


10 


jS. 


MICHAEL'S  church  belonged  to  Tochi  in  the  time  of 
Edward  the  Confessor,  and  to  Geoffrey  Alselin  at  the 
time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  (1086).*  But  shortly 
afterwards  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  William  Fitzralph,  Senes- 
chal of  Normandy,  who  is  described  as  then  being  of  Alvaston, 
and  he  bestowed  it  on  the  abbey  of  Darley .t  This  grant,  which 
originally  consisted  only  of  the  advowson  of  the  church,  was  con- 
firmed by  Eobert,  the  son  of  the  donor  ;  by  Walter  Durdent, 
Bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield  (1149-61)  ;  and  by  several  later 
charters,  both  royal  and  episcopal.  J  We  do  not  know  the  precise 
date  when  S.  Michael's  was  constituted  a  vicarage,  and  the  great 
tithes  appropriated  to  the  monks ;  but  it  must  have  been  not 
long  after  the  original  gift,  for  we  find  that  there  was  a  vicar  in 
the  year  1170.  At  that  time  Hugo,  Dean  of  Derby  (of  whom  we 
have  already  spoken  under  "  All  Saints' ")  sold  for  the  sum  of 
three  marks  to  William  de  Wilne,  vicar  of  S.  Michael's,  for  his 
own  use  and  for  the  use  of  all  successive  vicars,  one  toft  or  mes- 
suage, with  its  appurtenances,  situated  in  the  angle  of  the  church- 
yard on  the  east  side,  between  the  land  that  formerly  belonged  to 
Harno  and  the  land  of  John  Ferrers. § 

The  taxation  roll  of  Pope  Nicholas  IV.  (1291)  gives  the  annual 
value  of  the  church  or  rectory  of  S.  Michael,  together  with  the 

*  That  S.  Michael's  was  the  church  of  Tochi,  and  subsequently  of  Geoffrey  Alselin, 
we  have  no  doubt,  as  the  latter  proprietor  was  also  lord,  inter  alia,  of  Alvaston.  For 
a  further  account  of  Alselin,  see  our  description  of  Elvaston  church. 

t  Darley  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS.  Titus,  C.  ix.,  f.  148.  Thoroton  and  "Wolley  are 
wrong  in  supposing  that  William  Fitzralph  was  the  son  of  Ealph  Fitzherbert,  and 
brother  of  Ealph  Fitzralph  (donor  of  the  church  of  Crich  to  the  abbey) ;  see  Nichols' 
Collectanea,  vol.  iv.,  p.  9. 

J  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.,  p.  61 ;  Darlev  Chartulary,  f.  155b,  et  passim. 

§  Darley  Chartulary,  f.  67. 


132  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

chapelry  of  Alvaston,    at   ,£10  13s.  4d.,    but   makes  no  mention  of 
the  value  of  the  vicarage. 

Owing  to  the  gift  of  the  church  of  Elvaston,  together  with  various 
lands  in  Alvaston  and  elsewhere,  to  the  priory  of  Shelford,  by  a 
descendant  of  Geoffrey  Alseliu,  the  priors  were  frequently  in  col- 
lision with  the  abbots  of  Darley  as  to  their  mutual  rights.  At  one 
time  they  not  only  laid  claim  to  the  church  or  chapel  of  Alvaston, 
but  also  to  the  church  of  8.  Michael,  Derby  ;  and  it  was  not  until 
the  time  of  prior  Alexander,  who  died  in  1849,  that  Shelford 
finally  and  formally  renounced  all  claim  to  S.  Michael's.* 

Various  other  documents  pertaining  to  the  connection  of  this 
church  with  Alvaston  are  given  in  our  account  of  that  chapelry. 

The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  total  annual 
value  of  the  vicarage  at  the  small  sum  of  £±  14s.  lid.  We 
cannot  tell  the  exact  value  of  the  rectory  of  S.  Michael's  at  that 
date,  as  the  return  only  gives  the  joint  total  of  the  rectories  of 
S.  Peter's,  S.  Michael's,  and  Shirley,  which  amounted  to  the  annual 
sum  of  £17  16s.  Od. 

On  the  dissolution  of  Darley  Abbey  the  advowson  of  S.  Michael 
passed  to  the  crown.  Queen  Mary  bestowed  it  on  the  bailiffs  and 
burgesses  of  the  town  of  Derby,  together  with  some  of  the  despoiled 
tithes  pertaining  to  the  parish.t  They  presented  once  to  the 
vicarage,  but  soon  afterwards,  from  some  cause  which  we  cannot 
explain,  the  advowson  reverted  to  the  crown. 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners  of  1650  thus  report  of  this 
parish : — 

"  Item  Michaells  is  a  viccaridge  really  worth  eight  pounds  per  annum. 
Alvastone  is  a  member  and  hath  a  chappell  apperteyning  two  myles  distant 
(vizt).  Michaells  itselfe  ffive  pounds  per  annum  and  Alvaston  payes  the  said 
Viccar  of  Michaells  three  pounds  per  annum  vpon  a  composison  made  by  the 
abbatt  of  Derlye. 

"  Michaells  is  fitt  to  be  disused  and  vnited  to  the  parish  of  All  Saints, 
Alvastone  is  really  worth  in  vicarall  Tythes  besides  the  three  pounds  paid  to 
Michaells  six  pounds  thirteene  shillings  and  ffoure  pence  per  annum  and  fitt  to 
be  vnited  to  Elvastone." 

The  following  list  of  Vicars  is  chiefly  taken  from  the  Episcopal 
Registers  :  as  the  patron,  in  each  case  up  to  its  dissolution,  was 
the  abbot  of  Darley,  it  was  thought  unnecessary  to  repeat  the 
name  : — 

1170.  William  de  Winl'  (?  Wilne).    Darley  Chartulary. 
1253.  John  Blundus.    Darley  Chartulary. 
1313.  John  de  Lely. 

*  Darley  Chartulary,  f.  80 

t  Patent  Boll,  1  Mary,  pt.  1*0,  meinb.  1. 


s.  MICHAEL'S.  133 

1342.  Roger  Silcok  de  Potlok.      Collated  by  the  Bishop,  by  leave  of    the  abbot  of 

Darley. 
1349.  William  de  Clifton;  on  the  death  of  E.  S. 

.  William  de  Heanor;  on  the  resignation  of  W.  de  C. 
1368.  Francis  "de  Wylne;  on  the  death  of  W.  de  H. 
1380.  John  Bradewell,  rector  of   Cotgrave;   exchanged  benefices   with   F.   de   W., 

vicar  of  S.  Michael's. 
1422.*John  Lowe. 
1430.  Gilbert  Boturworth;  on  the  resignation  of  J.  L. 

.  John  More. 
1438.  Robert  Godelyng ;  on  the  death  of  J.  M. 

.  Nicholas  Chalisworth. 
1487.  John  Lenton;   on  the  death  of  N.  C. 

1491.  Roger  Arnold ;  *  on  the  death  of  J.  L. 

1492.  Thomas  Kendall;  on  the  death  of  E.  A. 

.  Robert  Johnson;   on  the  resignation  of  T.  K. 

1529.  Laurence  Hourabyn ;  on  the  death  of  E.  J. 

1530.  Nicholas  f  Bartimlew ;  on  the  resignation  of  L.  H.      Eeiustituted  in  1536, 
on  the  presentation  of  the  King. 

1543.  Thomas  Myln ;  patron,  Eoger  Byrde  de  Yolgreave,  by  arrangement  between 
him  and  the  lately  dissolved  abbey.     On  the  death  of  N.  B. 

1563.  Richard    Buntinge ;    patrons,    Eichard    Ward,    and    William    Bainbrygge, 

bailiffs,  and  the  burgesses  of  Derby.      On  the  death  of  T.  M. 
.  Joseph  Booth. " 

1613.  George  Dale. 

1619.  Henry  Coke. 

1620.  Thomas  Duxbury  I ;  patron,  the  King. 
1660.  Isaac  jSelden. 

1662.  Nathaniel  Macham,  "  per  sigillum  magnum." 
1685.  Francis  Ward;   on  the  deafh  of  N.  M. 
1689.  James  Walker. 
1710.  John  Bradbury. 
1719.  Henry  Burton. 
1722.  William  Lockett. 
1752.  John  Seale. 

1774.  Charles  Hope;  on  the  death  of  J.  S. 
1799.  Nicholas  Bayley. 
1816.  John  Garton  Howard. 

1847.  R.  M.  Hope ;  on  the  resignation  of  J.  Q-.  H. 
1856.  J.  Erskine  Clarke ;   on  the  resignation  of  E.  M.  H. 
1867.  W.  J.  M.  Ellison;   on  the  resignation  of  J.  E.  C. 

1876.  T.  Howard  Twist;   on  the  resignation  of  W.  J.  M.  E.     Patron,  the  Bishop 
of  Lichfleld.§ 

It  is  worth  noting  that  this  church  was  used  by  the  congrega- 
tion of  All  Saints'  when  their  own  church  was  re-building  in  1723-5. 
It  was  ordered  that  all  the  services  should  be  continued  ;  that  All 
Saints'  bells  should  be  rung  at  the  usual  time,  but  that  the  people 

*  In  the  margin  of  the  registers  this  institution  is  referred  to  S.  Peter's,  but  in  the 
institution  itself  it  is  rightly  associated  with  S.  Michael.  Episcopal  Eegisters,  vol. 
xiii.,  f.  121. 

t  The  name  in  the  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  is  given  as  "  Richard  Bartylmewe." 

J  Spelt  "  Ducksburie  "  in  the  parish  registers. 

§  The  patronage  was  transferred,  by  exchange,  from  the  Lord  Chancellor  to  the 
Bishop,  in  1873. 


134  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

should  worship  in  S.  Michael's.  The  services  at  Derby's  minster 
church,  exclusive  of  Sunday,  were,  even  then,  daily  morning  prayer, 
and  hoth  matins  and  evensong  on  saints'  days,  and  on  every  day 
in  the  week  preceding  the  celebration  of  Holy  Communion. 

The  old  church  of  S.  Michael  consisted  of  nave,  side  aisles, 
south  porch,  chancel,  and  west  tower.  From  the  cuts  given  by 
Hutton,  Simpson,  and  Glover,  as  well  as  from  the  sketches  and 
descriptions  of  Mr.  Eawlins,  Mr.  Meynell,  and  Sir  Stephen  Glynn, 
we  can  describe  it  with  sufficient  accuracy.  There  are  also  in  the 
vestry  of  the  new  church  three  photographs  of  the  old  building, 
and  a  water-colour  drawing  of  the  interior.  The  dimensions  of  the 
nave  were  22  ft.  6  in.  by  16  ft.  4  in.  ;  of  the  north  aisle,  36  ft. 
10  in.  by  12  ft.  6  in. ;  of  the  south  aisle,  33  ft.  4  in.  by  12  ft.  10  in.; 
and  of  the  chancel,  22  ft.  6  in.  by  17  ft.  4  in.  These  are  from  the 
measurements  of  Mr.  Rawliiis,  who  adds — writing  in  1826: — "The 
space  occupied  by  the  base  of  the  tower  appears  to  form  part  of 
the  church,  and  when  you  stand  near  the  reading-desk,  from  the 
circumstance  of  the  arches  which  support  it  being  open  ou  every 
side,  they  have  an  agreeable  effect,  being  all  of  the  pointed  order, 
as  is  likewise  the  one  on  each  side,  although  of  a  larger  span, 
separating  the  nave  from  the  two  aisles." 

There  was  a  carved  oak  screen  of  Perpendicular  date  across  the 
chancel  arch,  and  some  more  traceried  carving  had  been  utilised  in 
the  reading-desk.  Mr.  Rawlins,  who  detected  a  confessional  in 
everything  he  could  not  explain,  says  : — "Behind  the  pulpit  is  a 
small  circular  arch,  cut  through  the  wall,  as  if  intended  to  form 
an  entrance  into  a  kind  of  confessional."  If  the  pulpit  was  then 
on  the  south  side  of  the  church,  this  was  probably  a  doorway 
that  led  on  to  the  rood-loft.  The  doorway  and  staircase  leading  up 
to  it  from  the  south  aisle  were  exposed  in  demolishing  the  church. 
The  font  was  of  comparatively  modern  date,  and  described  as 
"  consisting  of  a  fluted  shaft,  on  which  is  a  circular  vase."  *  Sir 
Stephen  Glynn's  notes  of  1833  mention  that  the  roof  was  panelled 
in  wood.  The  church,  both  externally  and  internally,  was  almost 
exclusively  of  the  Perpendicular  period,  about  the  time  of  Henry 
VII.  The  tower  and  aisles  were  embattled.  The  clerestory  win- 
dows— two  on  each  side— were  of  three  lights,  and  much  resembled 
those  of  S.  Peter's.  The  windows  of  the  aisles  were  square-headed 
examples  of  Perpendicular  work.  The  porch  was  of  debased 

*  "  Bapt.  Elizabeth  the  Douter  of  Mr.  Samuell  Cooper  the  first  in  the  new  font, 
July  (he  8th,  1728."  -Parish  Register. 


s.  MICHAEL'S.  135 

design,  and  so  were  the  windows  of  the  chancel.  The  chancel 
had  a  high-pitched  roof,  and  the  gable  over  the  east  window  was 
covered  with  overlapping  planks  of  timber. 

On  August  17th,  1856,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  chancel 
fell — an  accident  which  was  thus  described  in  the  next  issue  of 
the  Derby  Mercury  : — 

"  Between  five  and  ten  minutes  to  12  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  last,  shortly 
before  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon,  the  gable  end  of  the  chancel  of  S.  Michael's 
church,  Derby,  gave  way,  and  the  casing  fell  with  a  heavy  crash  into  the  church- 
yard. The  fall  of  the  material  shook  the  fabric  of  the  church,  and,  as  might  be 
expected,  spread  consternation  through  those  assembled  within  its  walls.  The 
service  was  prematurely  concluded,  and  the  congregation,  in  a  state  of  great  terror 
and  alarm,  hurried  out  of  the  sacred  edifice.  Fortunately  no  accident  was  sus- 
tained. Service  has  been  since  suspended,  and  some  little  time,  it  it  supposed, 
will  elapse  before  it  is  resumed." 

It  was  eventually  decided  to  build  a  new  church  on  the  same 
site  and  of  much  the  same  proportions.  On  the  south-east  pier 
of  the  tower  is  a  brass  plate,  thus  inscribed  :  — 

"  To  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  souls  of  men  this  Church  was  rebuilt  on  the 
site  of  the  ancient  parish  church  of  unknown  antiquity,  the  chancel  of  which  fell 
during  divine  service  on  Aug.  17th,  1856. 

"  The  foundation  stone  beneath  this  brass  was  laid  by  T.  W.  Evans,  Esq.,  M.P., 
on  April  16th,  1857,  and  the  church  was  reopened  by  the  Et.  Eev.  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  Lichfield  on  April  18th,  1858. 

J.  Erskine  Clarke,  Vicar. 

Thomas  Branton,  1 

B.  Hemmingway,  S  Churchwardens. 

Committee 

S.  Brookes  J.  Holmes 

S.  Cropper  H.  M.  Holmes 

W.  Cubley  J.  F.  King 

M.  Eggleston  H.  Lougdon 

E.  Thompson. 

H.  I.  Stevens,  architect." 

Neither  the  present  church  nor  its  predecessor  contained  any 
monument  of  age  or  interest.  Bassano  looked  into  the  church  in 
1710,  and  all  he  had  to  say  was: — "Here  is  nothing  in  y8  church 
save  only  ye  charities  hung  up  in  3  frames." 

There  were  three  bells  in  this  church.  The  two  smaller  ones, 
being  broken,  were  recast  by  George  Oldfield,  in  1765,  at  an 
expense  of  <£9  5s.  Od.  There  is  now  only  one,  inscribed : — 

"Eev.  N.  Bayley,  Vicar.  W.  Berkin,  D.  Walker,  Wardens.  1809.  Thomas 
Mears  &  Son  of  London,  fecit." 

two  of  them  having  been  sold  when  the  church  was  rebuilt. 


136  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

The  earliest  register  book  is  a  small,  thin  parchment  volume, 
very  well  kept  and  in  good  condition,  beginning  November  9th, 
1559.  There  are  no  entries  between  1586  and  1593,  There  are 
twenty-one  entries  of  death  from  the  plague  *  between  May  and 
August,  1593,  but  nothing  else  worthy  of  special  record. 

The  church  possesses  some  remarkably  fine  and  massive  Euchar- 
istic  plate,  consisting  of  a  large  flagon,  chalice,  and  paten.  They 
all  bear  the  arms  of  Parker,  and  this  inscription : — "  The  gift  of 
Francis  Parker,  of  St.  Michael's  parish  in  Derby,  1765." 

*  See  note  on  All  Saints'  registers. 


ALVASTON.  137 


jjHE  gift  to  Darley  Abbey  of  the  church  of  S.  Michael, 
by  William  Fitzralph,  included  the  chapel  of  Alvasto 
Geoffrey  Alselin  held  the  manor  of  Alvaston,  as  well  as 
Elvaston,  etc.,  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  but  by  some 
means  it  soon  afterwards  passed  to  Fitzralph.  His  daughter, 
Edelina,  was  the  first  wife  of  Hubert  Fitzralph,  Baron  of  Crich,* 
and  brought  to  her  husband  the  manor  of  Alvaston.  Their 
daughter  and  heiress,  Juliana,  married  Anker  de  Frecheville,t  and 
the  earliest  extended  information  pertaining  to  Alvaston  church  or 
chapel,  that  we  have  met  with,  relates  to  Anker  de  Frecheville, 
their  grandson.  The  Frechevilles  appear  to  have  laid  claim  to 
the  advowson,  and  in  1257  an  agreement  was  entered  into, 
between  Walter  de  Walton,  abbot  of  Darley,  and  Anker  de  Freche- 
ville, by  which  the  latter  consents  to  recognise  the  church  of 
Alvaston  tl  tanquam  capelV  perdnentem  ad  matricem  Ec>-lesiam  suam 
Sci  Michael  Derb',"  and  the  abbot  gives  Anker  15  marks  for  freely 
giving  up  his  claim.  J 

In  1262  a  memorandum  was  drawn  up  between  the  abbot  of 
Darley  and  the  prior  of  Shelford,  respecting  the  tithes  of  Elvaston 
and  Alvaston,  the  former  as  rectors  of  Alvaston,  and  the  latter 
as  rectors  of  Elvastou.  The  point  at  issue  was  with  respect  to 
a  field  called  Mulnefield,  which  seems  to  have  been  partly  in 
the  parish  of  Elvaston  and  partly  in  that  of  S.  Michael's.  It 
is  described  as  being  on  the  east  of  the  way  called  Nunnedik, 
leading  from  the  town  of  Alvaston  to  the  mill  of  Burchmulne. 
The  matter  was  referred  to  the  arbitration  of  John  de  Weston,  and 
William,  rector  of  the  church  of  S.  Michael,  Nottingham,  who 
delivered  their  decision  in  the  church  of  All  Saints,  Derby,  on 

*  See  the  previous  account  of  Crich. 

t  Nichols'  Collectanea,  vol.  i..  p.  i,  etc. 

I  Darley  Chartulary,  Cole  MSS.,  vol.  xxi.,  p.  179. 


138  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

S.  Matthew's  day,  1262.  The  judgment  was  to  the  effect  that  the 
priory  (subject  to  a  penalty  of  ten  marks)  was  to  have  the  tithes, 
but  on  condition  of  paying  annually  12J.  to  the  abbey  on  the  feast 
of  S.  Michael.* 

The  following  agreement  was  entered  into  in  1279,  between  the 
abbey  of  Darley  and  the  parishioners  of  the  chapelry  of  Alvaston, 
relative  to  the  re-building  or  repair  of  the  chancel,  and  the  finding 
of  books  and  ornaments  for  the  chancel  altar,  and  also  concern- 
ing a  meadow,  called  Prestesmedue  (priest's  meadow),  which  the 
parishioners  asserted  had  been  given  to  the  chapel  for  keeping  a 
lamp  burning.  The  case  having  been  argued  before  John  Peck- 
ham,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  it  was  decided  that  half  of  the 
cost  of  the  repairs  or  re-building  that  might  be  requisite  from 
time  to  time  in  the  fabric,  as  well  as  of  providing  books,  a  chalice, 
and  proper  vestments  for  the  altar  of  the  chancel,  should  be  borne 
by  the  abbey,  and  half  by  the  parishioners — that  the  priest's 
meadow,  then  in  possession  of  the  abbey,  should  remain  with  them 
but  only  on  the  condition  that  the  abbot  should  pay  yearly  for 
the  lamps  of  the  chapel,  two  shillings  on  the  feast  of  S.  Michael — 
and  that,  with  respect  to  the  five  marks  and  a  half  already  handed 
over  by  the  abbey  to  the  parishioners  for  the  repair  of  the  chancel, 
whatever  has  not  been  thus  spent  should  be  returned  to  the  abbot, 
and  the  parish  were  to  expend  a  like  sum  whenever  repairs  were 
necessary,  before  calling  on  the  abbey  for  any  further  money  .f 

The  monks  of  Darley  in  1440  petitioned  William  Heyworth, 
Bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield,  to  unite  the  chapelry  of  Alvas- 
ton to  the  parish  church,  on  the  grounds  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Alvaston  were  not  so  numerous  as  to  require  two  priests,  that  the 
distance  to  the  mother  church  was  not  inconveniently  great,  and 
that  S.  Michael's  was  so  poor  that  the  profits  were  not  sufficient 
for  the  due  support  of  a  vicar.  A  commission  was  accordingly 
issued,  on  September  16th,  to  Gregory  Newporte,  rector  of  Hanbury, 
to  inquire  into  and  settle  the  matter  as  the  Bishop's  commissary. 
His  decision  was  to  the  effect  that  the  inhabitants  of  Alvaston 
should  thenceforth  attend  divine  service  at  S.  Michael's,  and  receive 
the  Sacraments  at  the  hands  of  the  vicar,  and  that  the  abbey  and 
vicar  should  be  exonerated  from  finding  a  chaplain  or  chaplains  to 
serve  at  the  chapel  of  Alvaston.  This  sentence  was  published  in 
the  church  of  S.  Peter,  Derby,  on  December  16th,  1440,  in  the 

*  Darley  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus,  C.  ix.,  f.  80. 
t  Ibid.,  f.  91. 


ALVASTON.  139 

presence  of  John  Lawe,  canon  and  sub  dean  of  All  Saints'  ;  John 
Ryggeway,  vicar  of  S.  Peter's  ;  and  John  Yvo,  chantry  priest  of 
Chaddesden.  * 

In  course  of  time  the  inhabitants  of  Alvaston  appear  to  have 
become  dissatisfied  with  the  arrangement  by  which  they  were 
deprived  of  their  chaplain — no  doubt  through  the  inconvenience  of 
attending  a  church  three  miles  distant.  Various  disputes  arising 
out  of  this  state  of  affairs  between  the  abbot  and  the  parishioners, 
the  matter  was  in  1499  again  referred  to  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese 
(then  John  Arundel),  who  on  the  10th  of  March  affixed  his  official 
seal  to  the  following  agreement : — That  the  abbot  should  have,  as 
heretofore,  the  tithes  of  corn  in  Alvaston ;  that  there  should  be 
perpetually  a  chaplain  in  the  chapel  of  Alvaston,  sustained  by  the 
lesser  tithes  and  oblations  of  that  place  ;  that  he  should  serve  the 
cure  and  administer  the  Sacraments  under  the  vicar  of  S.  Michael, 
by  whom  he  was  to  be  appointed  on  the  nomination  of  the 
parishioners  ;  that  if  the  parishioners  neglected  to  nominate  within 
three  weeks  of  the  death  or  removal  of  the  last  chaplain,  the 
nomination  should  pass  to  the  vicar  ;  that  all  the  lesser  tithes 
were  to  be  collected  by  the  inhabitants  for  the  chaplain,  except  the 
tithes  of  hay  which  were  to  go  to  the  abbot  ;  that  the  vicar  of 
S.  Michael's,  as  compensation,  was  to  receive  annually  £3  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Alvaston  ;  and  that  the  inhabitants  were  to  attend 
S.  Michael's  once  a  year — viz.,  on  the  Feast  of  Beliques.  Heavy 
penalties  were  provided  to  ensure  the  fulfilment  of  the  last  two 
clauses. 

The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  annual  clear 
value  of  the  curacy  at  £4  4s.  Od.,  being  derived  from  a  mansion, 
Easter  dues,  and  the  tithes  of  lambs,  wool,  flax,  pigs,  and  geese. 

The  Chantry  Roll,  1  and  2  Edward  IV.,  has  the  following  entry 
pertaining  to  Alvaston  : — 

"  S*  MYGHELL'S  DEBBIE.  The  Service  of  James  Tylleslye  clerke  in  the  Chappell 
of  Alvaston  presented  appointed  and  lymyted  att  the  will  and  pleasure  of  the 
Church  masters  and  inhabitants.  There  dothe  mynystre  all  maner  of  Sacraments 
and  Sacramentalls.  The  Pryste  hathe  towards  hys  lyvyng  all  maner  of  tythes 
and  duties  belongynge  to  the  Chappell  except  tythe  corne  and  haye  w°b  belonge 
to  the  Vicar  there  iiijZi.  iiijs.  clere  iiijZi.  iiijs.  James  Tylleslye  preste.  It  hathe 
bene  called  the  parishe  churche  tyme  owte  of  remembraunce  whereunto  resortyth 
iiijxx  howselynge  people.  Chalys  plate  Jewells  or  ornaments  butt  suche  as  the 
iuhabitauntss  did  by  and  fynde." 

*  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  xv.,  f.  58.  There  is  a  full  translation  of  this 
and  the  next  quoted  document  in  vol.  iii.  of  the  Reliquary,  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  B. 
Poole,  incumbent  of  Alvaston  and  Boulton.  We  desire  to  express  pur  grateful 
acknowledgments  to  that  gentleman  for  kindly  furnishing  us  with  much  information. 


140  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

The  ^Commissioners  for  Church  Goods,  6  Edward  IV.,  thus 
report  :  — 

"  Alvaston,  Oct.  5.  Sir  Thos.  Pegge  curat.  j  chalece  parcell  gylte  of  sylver  — 
ij  bells  in  the  frame  —  ij  vestments,  j  of  blew  sylke  and  j  of  twylle  —  ij  albes  —  ij 
amysses  —  j  hand  bell  —  ij  alter  clotthe—  j  crosse  of  wood  coveryd  with  brasse  — 
j  towell  —  j  coope  of  twylle  —  j  sacryng  bell  —  j  crewett  of  puter  —  j  old  eurples  — 
j  corporas  with  a  case." 


1499-down  wards  the  inhabitants  have  appointed  their  own 
minister,  and  the  cure  has  generally  been  held  together  with  that 
of  the  closely-adjacent  chapel  of  Boulton,  in  S.  Peter's  parish. 
The  two  townships  intersect  one  another  in  a  most  intricate 
manner.  The  oldest  register  book,  commencing  in  1614,  is 
described  as  the  joint  register  of  Alvaston  and  Boulton.  The  fol- 
lowing list  of  the  curates  or  incumbents  of  Alvaston  is  chiefly 
taken  from  these  registers  :  — 

Thomas  Hyechynson.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus,  1535. 

James  Tylleslye,  1548. 

Thomas  Pegge,  1553. 

John  Edmunds,  commenced  the  register  1614,  buried  1639. 

Thomas  Pallfreman,  mentioned  in  1663. 

T.  V.  Grongnet,  mentioned  in  1698. 

Hugh  Broome£"  came  hither  Easter,  1702." 

Charles  Williamott,  mentioned  1715. 

William  Lockett,  "  came  hither  March  29th,  1716,"  resigned  October  16th,  1722. 

Thomas  Shipton,  "came  hither  at  Michaelmas,*  1722,"  died  in  1774. 

Joseph  Smith,    "licensed   to    Alvaston,   Boulton,   and    Osmaston,  29th    of    July, 

1774." 

William  Spencer,  1809,  on  the  death  of  J.  S. 
Edward  Poole,  1843,  on  the  death  of  W.  S.f 

That  there  was  a  church  or  chapel  here  in  the  Saxon  times, 
with  burial  rights  attached  to  it,  is  proved  by  the  remarkable 
sepulchral  slab  (Plate  VII.,  fig.  2)  found  under  the  foundations  of 
the  old  tower,  and  which  has  within  the  present  year  (1878)  been 
happily  placed  within  the  shelter  of  the  porch,  after  many  years' 
exposure  to  the  weather  in  the  churchyard.  We  have  never  yet 
met  with  a  similar  pattern  on  a  sepulchral  slab,  or  found  one 
depicted  in  works  such  as  those  of  Cutts  or  Boutell.  It  should  be 
compared  with  the  cross  on  the  side  of  the  conical  Saxon  capital 
of  old  S.  Alkmund's  (Plate  V.).  Its  design  seems  to  have  been 
taken  from  a  jewelled  processional  cross.  Another  slab,  having  an 

*  This  is  the  first  incumbent  of  Alvaston  whose  name  we  have  met  with  in  the 
Episcopal  Registers. 

f  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Spencer  (who  was  also  vicar  of  Dronfield),  there  were  two 
nominations  for  the  Bishop's  licence,  viz.  Mr.  Poole  on  the  nomination  of  the  parish- 
ioners generally,  and  Mr.  Highmore  on  the  nomination  of  freeholders  only.  The 
matter  was  referred  to  arbitration,  and  the  decision  given  in  favour  of  the  former. 


ALVASTON.  141 

incised  cross,  but  with  a  circular  bead  and  of  no  unusual  pattern, 
was  found  at  the  same  time.  It  is  of  twelfth-century  date,  and 
has  also  now  been  fixed  against  the  inner  wall  of  the  porch. 

The  present  church— which  consists  of  nave,  side  aisles,  chancel, 
and  west  tower — was  built,  in  the  Perpendicular  style,  on  the  site 
of  the  old  building  in  the  year  1856,  at  a  cost  of  about  £2,200. 
At  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle  is  a  plate  thus  inscribed  : — 

"  The  foundation  stone  of  this  new  parish  church  of  Alvaston  was  laid  in  faith 
and  hope  A.D.  1855.  The  head  stone  was  brought  forth  in  love  and  praise  June 
25th,  1856. 

Building  Committee  : 
Edward  Poole,  Incumbent. 
Charles  Holbrooke 
Richard  Henshaw 
James  Osborne,  James  Hollingworth. 

Chronicles  xxix.  9.' 


j  Church  Wardens. 


Against  the  east  wall  of  the  south  aisle  is  an  alabaster  slab, 
bearing  the  following  inscription  : — 

"  Here  beneath  lieth  buried  the  body  of  Eaphe  Newham  late  of  Alvaston 
yeoman  who  had  in  lawfull  marriage  two  wives,  Margaret  the  daughter  of  John 
Hill  of  Alvaston,  by  the  which  Margery  hee  had  issue  foure  sonnes,  and  shee  died 
the  27  of  August  1579.  Also  hee  had  Margret  the  daughter  of  Raphe  Bencroft  of 
Chellerston,  by  whom  hee  had  issue  five  sonnes  and  nine  daughters,  and  the  said 
Raphe  died  the  17  of  October  1617." 

In  the  chancel  are  eighteenth  century  monuments  to  the  Alles- 
trees  and  Borrows.  Over  the  altar  is  a  remarkably  good  specimen 
of  beaten-iron  work  (Plate  VI.),  supposed  by  competent  judges  to 
be  the  handiwork  of  the  celebrated  artificer,  Huntingdon  Shaw ; 
but  we  are  inclined  to  give  the  credit  to  a  Derby  craftsman,  Bake- 
well,  who  executed  the  iron  work  at  All  Saints'.  It  consists  of  the 
figure  of  an  angel  with  a  trumpet — probably  intended  for  the 
Archangel  Michael — surrounded  by  scroll  work,  and  the  verse, 
"  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  goodwill 
towards  men,"  inscribed  below.  This  reredos  of  iron  work  was 
given  to  the  church  by  one  Charles  Benskin,  of  Alvaston,  about 
the  beginning  of  last  century,  as  well  as  an  altar  cloth  of  fine 
crimson  velvet,  with  heavy  bullion  fringe,  still  in  use.  He  contri- 
buted munificently  towards  the  augmentation  of  the  curacies  of 
Alvaston,  Boulton,  and  Osmaston,  and  he  was  also  a  benefactor  to 
S.  Werburgh's  Church,  Derby — as  we  afterwards  note — and  lies 
buried  under  a  weighty  uninscribed  tomb  close  to  the  west  side  of 
the  tower.  We  find,  from  the  registers,  that  he  was  buried  on 
April  17th,  1739. 

In  the  south  chancel   wall  is  a   small  piscina  in  an  ogee-shaped 


142  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

recess,  and  having  an  octagon  drain.  It  is  of  fourteenth  century 
date.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  vestry,  wherein  is 
a  cupboard  made  of  the  oak  of  the  pulpit  and  other  panels  of 
the  former  church.  On  it  is  inscribed  : — "Hugh  Broome  Cura*  Ano. 
Do.  1703,"  and  in  another  place,  "  C.B.  R.N.  C.W.  1714." 
The  tower  contains  two  bells  : — 

I.  "God   save  his  Church,    1662,"   and   the  bell-mark   of  George 
Oldfield.     Diameter   at  mouth,  twenty-eight  inches, 

II.  "  In   honore   beate  Marie,"  a   mediaeval  bell,  with   inscription 
in  Lombardic  capitals.     Diameter,  thirty-two  inches. 

Having  now  made  mention  of  all  the  details  removed  to  the 
present  building  from  the  old  church,  it  remains  for  us  to  say  a 
few  words  respecting  the  fabric  of  its  predecessor ;  and  this  we 
are  enabled  to  do  with  some  accuracy,  from  the  drawings  and 
descriptions  of  Mr.  Rawlins  and  Mr.  Meynell.  It  consisted  of  a 
nave  and  chancel  whose  united  area  was  65  ft.  5  in.  by  16  ft.,  a 
south  porch,  and  a  tower  at  the  east  end.  This  tower,  Mr.  Mey- 
nell, writing  about  1812,  says  had  been  then  erected  about  forty 
years;  its  predecessor  is  supposed  to  have  suffered  much  injury 
from  either  a  severe  storm  or  from  a  shock  of  earthquake.  The 
roofs  of  both  nave  and  chancel  were  fiat  and  unembattled.  There 
were  three  square-headed  Perpendicular  windows  in  the  south  nave 
wall,  pointing  to  a  general  restoration  of  the  building  when 
regular  service  was  resumed  here  in  1499.  The  side  windows  and 
priest's  door  of  the  chancel  were  of  a  plain  debased  character. 
The  three-light  east  window  was  of  an  exceptionally  chaste  design, 
pertaining  to  the  Decorated  period,  about  the  middle  of  the  four- 
teenth century.  The  beautiful  tracery  of  this  window,  in  a  fairly 
perfect  condition,  was  re-erected  in  the  grounds  of  a  house  not  far 
from  the  church.  We  give  a  drawing  of  it  on  Plate  VI.* 

The  dedication  of  this  church  has  generally  been  considered  to 
be  unknown.  But  the  same  dedication  as  the  mother  church  (S. 
Michael)  is  given  in  Ecton's  'lliesaurus  (1742),  and  this  is  repeated 
by  Mr.  Eawlins,  whom  we  have  always  found  to  be  scrupulously 
accurate  in  this  particular.  We  have  therefore  no  hesitation  in 
assigning  it  to  S.  Michael. 

The  registers,  which  relate  jointly  to  Alvaston  and  Boulton, 
begin  in  1614. 

*  For  the  drawings  of  several  details  of  the  churches  of  Alvaston  and  Boulton,  we 
are  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Jobson,  chtirchwarden  of  Alvaston.  It  was  at  that 
gentleman's  expense  that  the  ancient  slabs  were  recently  removed  for  preservation  to 
the  porch. 


TQonnanfon, 


|HE  church  of  S.  Peter,  Derby,  in  the  time  of  Edward 
the  Confessor,  pertained  to  one  Leuric,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  compilation  of  the  Domesday  Survey  (1086)  it 
was  in  the  hands  of  Ealph  FitzHubert.*  Eobert,  Earl  Ferrers, 
one  of  the  chief  benefactors  of  the  abbey  of  Darley,  gave  the 
church  of  S.  Peter  to  that  abbey  in  the  reign  of  Stephen,  accord- 
ing to  one  charter  ;  but  this  was  probably  only  as  feudal  lord,  and 
not  as  the  immediate  donor,  t  In  the  first  year  of  Henry  II.,  an 
inquisition  was  held  at  Derby  before  a  mixed  jury  of  clergy  and 
laity,  who  decided  that  the  church  of  S.  Peter  had  been  founded 
and  built  on  the  patrimony  of  Hugh,  dean  of  Derby  (i.e.,  of  All 
Saints'),  and  that  to  him  pertained  the  advowson  of  the  church.| 
This  Hugh — probably  a  descendant  of  Ealph  FitzHubert — was  the 
donor  of  the  site  of  Darley  abbey,  in  fact  its  chief  founder,  and 
before  this  date  he  had  conveyed  the  advowson  to  the  abbey.  The 
charter  detailing  this  gift  having  been  accidentally  burnt,  a  new  deed 
was  made  out,  and  the  grant  confirmed  in  the  names  of  three  of  the 
burgesses  of  the  town — John  de  Londiniis,  Peter  Ingram,  and  John 
de  la  Cornere,  who  were  descendants  of  Dean  Hugh.  §  The  grant 
was  also  confirmed  by  Walter  Durdent,  who  held  the  see  of 
Coventry  and  Lichfield  from  1149  to  1161. 

The  gift  of  this  church  seemed,  almost  from  the  outset,  to  imply 
more   than   placing   the  advowson   in    the  hands  of  the  monks,  for 

*  Ealph  Fitzhubert  held  the  manor  of  Boulton  in  this  parish,  so  that  we  have  little 
or  no  hesitation  in  identifying  his  Derby  church  with  S.  Peter's. 

t  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  i.,  p.  231. 

t  Chartulary  of  Darley  Abbey,  Cotfc.   MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  f.  56.      See   Appendix 
No.  VII. 

§  Ibid,  f.  16b. 
11 


146  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

as  early  as  the  time  of  Henry  II.  there  was  a  vicar  of  S.  Peter's. 
The  vicar  was  endowed  with  the  usual  small  tithes,  such  as  lambs, 
wool,  hay,  etc.,  and  was  also  entitled  to  receive  all  the  altar  fees 
and  offerings  ;  but  for  the  latter  privilege  he  was  to  pay  annually 
to  the  abbey  the  sum  of  three  marks,  an  arrangement  which 
received  the  episcopal  sanction  of  Bishops  Geoffrey  (1198-1215) 
and  William  (1215-24).*  As  Derby  increased  in  population,  the 
offerings  and  fees  at  S.  Peter's  became  of  more  value,  and  the 
abbey  procured  the  episcopal  consent  to  an  alteration  of  this 
arrangement,  by  which  the  abbot  was  to  receive  five  instead  of 
three  marks  annually.  It  was  stated  that  this  sum  was  to  be  paid 
without  fail,  and  that  no  plea  of  poverty  arising  from  war  or  the 
barrenness  of  the  land  would  be  admitted  as  an  excuse.  The 
abbot,  on  his  side,  pledged  himself  to  pay  all  the  episcopal  and 
synodical  dues  as  rector,  and  to  provide  a  pension  for  any  vicar 
who  might  be  disabled  from  sickness  or  any  personal  infirmity.t 

Robert  de  Hylton,  who  was  vicar  of  S.  Peter's  circa  1270,  gave 
a  mediety  of  a  toft  and  buildings  in  Walle  Street,  Derby,  to  the 
abbey  of  Darley  ;  and  we  find  that  the  property  was  subsequently 
held  on  the  tenure  of  paying  6d.  annually  to  the  sacristan  of 
Darley  Abbey,  and  the  like  sum  annually  towards  the  maintenance 
of  a  lamp  before  the  high  altar  of  S.  Peter  's.J 

The  Valor  of  Pope  Nicholas  (1291)  estimated  the  total  annual 
revenues  of  this  church  at  £13  6s.  8d.  The  clear  annual  value 
of  the  vicarage  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  was  £8. 

The  monks  of  Darley,  foreseeing  their  speedy  dissolution,  sold 
the  next  presentation  to  S.  Peter's  vicarage,  to  Peter  Marten,  of 
Stapelford.  His  executors  were  allowed  to  present  in  1552  ;  but  it 
was  then  resumed  by  the  crown,  and  granted  by  letters  patent  to 
the  Babingtons.  But  on  the  accession  of  Queen  Mary,  the  advow- 
son  of  S.  Peter's  was  included  in  her  munificent  grant  to  the 
Bailiffs  and  Burgesses  of  the  town  of  Derby.  Queen  Elizabeth 
seems  to  have  set  aside  this  grant  of  Queen  Mary ;  and  on  the 
forfeiture  of  the  Babington  estates  in  1588,  through  a  charge  of 
high  treason,  the  advowson  was  granted  by  the  crown  to  Sir 
Francis  Beaumont,  of  Gracedieu,  justice  of  the  Common  Pleas. 
Sir  Henry  Beaumont,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Francis,  dying  in  1605, 
his  principal  estates,  including  this  advowson,  passed  to  his  post- 

«  Ibid,  ft.  155,  155b. 
t  Ibid,  f.  156. 
{  Ibid,  f .  83b. 


s.  PETER'S.  147 

humous  daughter,  Barbara,  who  married  (1)  Sir  John  Harpur,  by 
which  alliance  there  was  no  issue,  and  (2)  Sir  Wolstau  Dixie. :;: 
When  the  living  became  vacant  on  the  death  of  John  Bay  lie  in 
1628,  the  town  of  Derby  claimed  the  right  to  present  under  Queen 
Mary's  charter.  The  claim  was  resisted,  though  not  successfully ; 
but  at  the  time  of  the  Eestoration,  the  Dixie  family  obtained  undis- 
puted possession  of  it,  and  continued  to  present  until  the  present 
century,  when  the  living  was  sold  to  trustees. 

In  the  time  of  the  'Commonwealth  the  living  was  considerably 
augmented.  The  following  is  the  report  of  the  Parliamentary 
Commissioners  of  1650: — "  Peeters  is  a  vicca ridge  really  worth 
fortye  pounds  per  annum,  and  an  augmentacou  of  eight  and  thirtye 
pounds  per  annum  forth  of  the  said  Rectory  of  Glossop,f  and  the 
tytlie  haye  of  Litchurch  sequestred  from  the  Earle  of  Newcastle 
worth  twelve  pound  per  annum,  divers  chappels  apperteyning." 

The  following  list  of  vicars  is  chiefly  compiled  from  the  Lich- 
field  registers  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office  : — - 

1155.  circa,  Ralph.    Barley  Chartulary. 

1245.  circa,  Peter.     Barley  Chartulary. 

1270.  circa,  Robert  de  Hylton.     Barley  Chartulary. 

1305.  Robert  de  Alsop. 

.  Thomas 

1349.  William  de  Clifton ;  on  the  death  of  T.     W.  de  C.  resigned  S.  Michael's  to 

accept  this  preferment. 
1357.  John  de  Norton.    On  the  death  of  W.  de  C. 

.  Richard  de  Crumleye. 
1360.  William  de  Burton.    On  the  resignation  of  R.  de  C. 

.  John  Duffleld. 

1433.  John  Ryggeway.    On  the  resignation  of  J.  B. 
1475.  John  Loughborow.    On  the  death  of  J.  R. 

1489.  Richard  Dermeyne.     On  the  death  of  J.  L.    Collated  by  the  Bishop. 
1497.  Nicholas    Kay.      On    the    resignation  of   R.  B.,  to  whom  a  pension  of  four 

marks  was  assigned  under  the  episcopal  seal. 
1528.  William    Collier ;  patron,  Ralph   "Whitened,  for   this  turn,  by  leave  of  the 

abbot  of  Barley.     On  the  death  of  N.  K. 
1552.  William  Stanbanke ;    patrons,    John    Martell    alias    Marten,    and    Richard 

Marten,    executors?    of   Peter  Marten,    of    Stapelforth,    by    arrangement  with 

the  lately  dissolved  abbey.     On  the  death  of  W.  C. 
1572.  Elizeus  Byrfoote  ;    patron,  Balph  Mynars,  for   this  turn,  by  the  concession 

of  John  Babiugton.     On  the  death  of  W.   S. 

*  A  schedule  of  the  property  of  this  infant  heiress,  taken  when  only  seven  months 
and  five  days  old,  specifies,  inter  alia,  the  manor  of  Cottons  or  Cotton  in  Normantoii 
township,  also  Normantoii  Grange,  that  had  pertained  to  Barley  Abbey,  all  the  tythes 
of  corn  and  hay  in  Normanton,  and  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  S.  Peter's,  valued 
conjointly  at  the  yearly  sum  of  =£17  19s.  2d.  From  the  original  schedule,  kindly  lent 
to  me,  by  the  Rev.  W.  Hope,  the  present  vicar. 

t  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  p.  200.  The  Committee  of  plundered  ministers 
ordered  that,  out  of  the  sequestered  impropriate  tithes  of  G-lossop,  i'70  should  be 
paid  to  the  minister  of  All  Saints' ;  ±'30  to  S.  Werburgh's  ;  £38  to  S.  Peter's ;  £50  to 
Chesterfield;  £40  to  Mellor;  i'50  to  Hayfield;  ±'50  to  Brassington ;  £40  to  Stony 
Middleton  ;  and  1'30  to  Ockbrook. 


148  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

1582.  William  Stanton.    Buried  1596,  Parish  Registers. 

1596.  Robert  Mason  ;*  patron,  Sir  Francis  Beaumont,  of  Gracedieu. 

1608.  John  Baylie ;    patrons,   the    trustees   of   Barbara,   daughter  of    Sir    Henry 
Beaumont. 

1628.  John  Wyersdale.      On  the  death  of  J.  B.;  patrons,  the  bailiffs  and  bur- 
gesses of  Derby. 

1648.  Robert  Gee.f    Parish  Registers. 
.  Walter  Taylor. 

1656.  Luke  Cranwell  ;J   patrons,  the  mayor  and   burgesses   of  Derby.     On  the 
death  of  W.  T. 

1662.  Thomas  AUestree ;  patron,  Beaumont  Dixie.    On  the  ejection  of  L.  C. 

1664.  William  Osborne ;  patron,  Beaumont  Dixie.     On  the  resignation  of  T.  A. 

1712.  James  Orton;  patron,  Sir  Wolston  Dixie.     On  the  death  of  W.  O. 

1715.  Henry  Greene;  patron,  Sir  Wolston  Dixie.    On  the  death  of  J.  O. 

1749.  Henry  Offley  Wright ;  patron,  Sir  Wolston  Dixie.     On  the  death  of  H.  G. 

1773.  Beaumont  Dixie  ;  patron,  Willoughby  Dixie. 

*  The  following  is  a  verbatim  copy  of  a  letter  from  this  vicar  relative  to  the  dispute 
pertaining  to  the  presentation  : — 

"  To  my  very  loving  freude 

M1  Thomas  Levinge  at  his 
house  in  Derby  give  these 

"  Good  Fr. 

"  I  received  your  Ire  by  this  bearer,  for  answere  whereonto  these  may  signify, 
that  I  was  sometyme  vicare  of  S*  Peters,  I  was  presented  thereonto  by  Francis  Beau- 
mont of  Gracedieu  one  of  ye  justices  of  the  Comon  pleas,  and  was  Instituted  there 
two  and  thirty  yeare  agoe,  as  it  will  appeare  by  my  instruments,  w°h  I  am  not  willing 
to  let  go  out  of  my  hand,  because  I  know  not  what  inconvenience  may  follow  thereof. 
This  is  all  I  can  say  for  my  certeine  knowledge  and  will  ever  be  ready  to  avow :  And 
so  wth  my  best  wishes  to  you  leave  you  to  God's  blessing  and  rest. 

Your  loving  frend 
"  Drayton,  May  ye  8th,  1629.  Eobert  Mason." 

t "  Robertus  Gee  in  Artibus  magister  Inductus  fuit  in  vicar'  Petri  Darbieus* 
November  15,  1648,  per  Mr.  Swetnam  and  Mr.  Bakewell.  By  the  presentation  of  the 
Hall  of  Darbie  aforesaid.  Mr.  John  Parker,  Aldermane,  and  Mr.  Domage  beinge 
present  and  manie  other  parishioners  and  neighbours."  Parish  Registers. 

}  The  original  presentation  of  Luke  Cranwell  is  preserved  at  Lambeth  Palace 
Library  (MSS.  944,  f.  22).  It  is  a  small  parchment  document.  12  in.  by  9,  and  runs  as 
follows  : — "  To  the  Commission  for  approving  of  Public  Preachers  to  all  other  person 
or  persons  whatsoever  that  have  or  shall  have  sufficient  power  and  authority  in  this 
behalf  Greeting,  Wee  the  Mayor  and  Buigesses  of  the  Burrow  of  Derby  in  the  county 
of  Derby,  the  sure  and  undoubted  Patrons  of  the  vicarage  of  S*  Peters  in  Derby,  now 
voyd  by  the  death  of  Walter  Taylor  the  last  incumbent  thereof,  and  to  our  Present- 
ation of  full  right  belonging,  Doe  by  these  presents  present  Luke  Cranwell  Clerke  Mr 
of  Artes  to  the  sayd  vicarage  desireing  that  the  said  Luke  Cranwell  may  be  admitted 
to  and  set  in  the  vicarage  of  S*  Peters  in  Derby  aforesaid  and  inducted  in  all  the 
rights  members  and  appurtenances  thereof  and  that  you  doe  perfect  and  execute  all 
the  Articles  and  things  necessary  and  requisite  to  bee  done  in  the  premises.  In 
Witness  whereof  we  the  said  Mayor  and  Burgesses  have  put  to  the  Common  Scale  of 
the  said  Burrow  the  first  day  of  July  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1656. 

(Signed)     Tho.  Sleigh,  Mayor 
Roger  Allestry." 

The  following  is  Calamy's  account  of  this  vicar : — "  A  knowing,  couragious,  zealous, 
and  upright  Man.  He  was  not  very  ready  in  Elocution ;  but  very  Scriptural,  Solid 
and  Substantial  in  all  his  Discourses.  His  Sermons  when  look'd  over  by  Writers,  or 
thought  over  by  Understanding  Hearers,  were  found  to  be  full  of  Divinity.  He  had 
some  competent  Skill  in  Physick  before  he  was  Sileuc'd.  When  he  was  no  longer 
suffer'd  to  exercise  his  Ministry  publicly,  he  resolv'd  to  try  what  he  could  do  in  the 
other  Faculty.  He  betook  himself  to  serve  bodies,  and  he  grew  very  Judicious  and 
Skilful,  Famous  and  Successful.  Hereby  he  maintiau'd  himself  and  his  Family  very 
comfortably,  kept  good  Hospitality ;  and  he  did  as  readily  help  his  Bretheren,  and 
the  Poor  among  his  Neighbours,  without  any  Desire  or  Expectation  of  Fees,  as  he  did 
the  Rich  and  greatest.  He  had  a  working  Head.  He  understood  well  what  he  read, 
and  found  out  some  Magistrals  of  his  own,  some  happy  and  effectual  Medicines.  He 
was  a  chearful  Man  and  to  appearance  very  strong,  but  when  he  began  to  decline,  he 
ran  down  speedily.  That  he  might  be  out  of  reach  of  the  Oxford  Act,  he  went  to 
Kegworth  in  Leicestershire  where  he  dyed,  Nov.  11,  1683;  on  the  Lord's  Day." — 
Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  165. 


s.  PETER'S.  149 

1786.  Thomas  Wright;  patron,  Willoughby  Dixie. 

1788.  Richard  Rowland  Ward;    patron,  Willoughby  Dixie.      On  the   resignation 

of  T.  W. 
1834.  Charles    Wright;    patrons,   Henry    Wright,   Thomas   Wright,   said    Charles 

Wright,  Francis  Wright,  and  Samuel  Wright.     On  the  death  of  R.  R.  W. 
1847.  William  Hope;  patron,  Rev.  Charles  Wright.     On  the  resignation  of  C.  W' 

In  the  year  1338  the  sanction  of  the  Bishop  and  of  the  Abbot 
of  Darley  was  obtained  for  the  founding  of  a  chantry  in  this 
church,  at  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  The  founders  were 
John  de  Crich,  of  Derby,  priest,  Walter  de  Shardlow,  John  de 
Shardlow,  Simon  de  Nottingham,  Jordan  le  Walker,  William  de 
Nottingham,  and  Adam  de  Leicester — all  of  them  being  parish- 
ioners of  S.  Peter's.  The  first  named  was  the  principal  founder, 
and  the  immediate  object  of  the  endowment  was  to  provide  for  the 
saying  of  daily  mass  for  the  soul  of  Geoffrey  de  Crich,  of  Derby, 
who  is  described  as  a  chief  promoter  of  works  of  charity  in  that 
town,  and  whom  we  believe  to  have  been  the  father  of  John  de 
Crich.  The  vicar  of  S.  Peter's  for  the  time  being  was  to  be  the 
guardian  (custosj  of  the  chantry,  and  to  have  not  only  the  power 
of  nominating  a  chaplain  on  a  vacancy  occurring  by  death  or  resig- 
nation, but  also  of  removing  the  chaplain  and  substituting  another, 
for  any  breach  of  decorum  or  lack  of  attention  to  his  duties.  If  a 
vacancy  occurred,  and  the  vicar  neglected  to  nominate  within  a 
month,  the  presentation  passed  to  the  Abbot  of  Darley ;  and  if  he, 
too,  neglected  to  present  within  a  like  period,  the  Bishop  was  to 
collate  to  the  vacancy.*  On  April  12th,  1339,  the  royal  license 
was  obtained  by  John  de  Crich  for  endowing  this  chantry  with  two 
messuages,  twenty-two  acres  of  arable  land,  sevenpence  in  rents, 
two  parts  of  another  messuage,  and  half  an  acre  of  meadow, 
situate  in  Derby,  Normauton,  Alvaston,  and  Litchurch.  For  the 
letters  patent,  licensing  the  alienation  of  this  property,  John  de 
Crich  paid  a  fee  of  thirty  shillings .t  The  chantry  was  not  defi- 
nitely established  until  1342,  when  John  de  Crich  himself  was 
collated  first  chaplain.  The  following  list  of  -chaplains,  extracted 
from,  the  Episcopal  Registers,  shows  that  they  were  always  insti- 
tuted by  the  Bishop  in  the  14th  century  ;  but  this  custom,  as  we 
find  no  later  institutions,  seems  to  have  afterwards  died  out. 

1342.  John  de  Crich.      Collated  by  the  Bishop.     The  chantry  is  described  as  in 

the  custody  of  Robert,  vicar  of  S.  Peter's. 
1349.  Walter  Feelde;    patron,   Thomas,  vicar  of   S.    Peter's.     On  the   death  of 

J.  de  C. 

*  Cotton  MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  f.  108b. 

t  Pat.  Rot.,  13  Edw.  III.,  ft,  1,  memb  22. 


150  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1356.  Henry  Spencer.     Collated  by  the  Bishop  through  lapse  of  time. 

1358.  Thomas    Tichebroke;     patron,    J.   de    N.,   vicar    of    S.    Peter's.      Ou   the 

resignation  of  H.  S. 

1379.  Henry  Withy;  patron,  Laurence,  abbot  of  Darley. 
1382.  Richard  de  Crich.    On  the  resignation  of  H.  W. 
— .  William  de  Brenaston,    vicar  of    Crich,  exchanged  his   benefice   for  this 

chantry  with  R.  de  C. 
.  H.  Wether. 

1391.  John  Foucher :  patron,  W.  de  B.,  vicar.    On  the  death  of  H.  W. 
1398.  William  de  Charnes.    Collated  by  the  Bishop  through  lapse  of  time. 

The  following  is  the  statement  in  the  Chantry  Eoll,  temp. 
Edward  III.,  respecting  this  chantry  : — 

ST.  PETER'S  DERBY  founded  by  J.  Cruche  Pryste  Walter  Shardelowe  Simon  de 
Nottingham  and  Ade  de  Leycester  for  a  pryst  to  say  Masse  daylye  iiij  li.  Clere 
vj  li  vj  s.  Gregorye  HawxWell  Chauntry  pryst.  Stock  iiij  s.  vj.  d. 

The  pension  roll  of  Queen  Mary  assigns  an  annuity  of  48s.  8d. 
to  Gregory  Hawkswell.*  His  name  was  therein  given  as  George, 
but  this  was  an  error,  as  we  shall  subsequently  find,  from  his 
autograph  on  the  walls  of  Morley  Church.  Part  of  the  property 
of  this  chantry  was  sold  by  the  crown,  6  Edward  VI.,  to  Thomas 
Cecill  and  John  Bell,  part  to  Edward  Pease  and  James  Wilson, 
aud  part  to  the  Burgesses  of  Derby. 

In  the  year  1348  another  chantry  was  founded  in  this  church,  in 
honour  of  S.  Nicholas,  by  Adam  de  Shardlow.  The  Episcopal 
Eegisters  give  us  the  name  of  John  Hower  as  the  first  chaplain. 
He  was  instituted  in  1348,  on  the  presentation  of  Adam  de 
Shardlow.  The  only  other  reference  that  we  have  found  to  this 
chantry  at  Lichfield  is  under  the  year  1479,  when  Ealph  Pole,  of 
Eadbourn,  presents  a  chaplain,  whose  name  is  illegible.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  entry  in  the  Chantry  Eoll : — 

THE  CHANTRY  OF  ST.  NYCHOLAS  founded  by  Adam  Shardlowe  by  lycence  of 
K.  Edwarde  ...  6  July  Ao  Regni  xxo.  for  a  pryste  to  synge  masse  daylee  at 
S  Nycholas  alter  xl  s.  Clere  liiij  s  iiij  d.  Gamys  Cheryholme  chauntry  pryst. 
xxxix  s  iij  d  is  claymed  by  German  Pole,  Esq.  The  incumbent  hathe  all  neces- 
saryes  of  the  parisshe  churche. 

James  Cherryholme  obtained  a  pension  of  53s.  4d.  from  the  exche- 
quer in  the  time  of  Queen  Mary. 

Eobert  Liversage,  a  charitable  and  wealthy  dyer  of  this  parish — 
whose  name  has  been  already  mentioned  as  a  prominent  benefactor 
of  the  tower  of  All  Saints' — by  deed  dated  November  3rd,  21 

*  Add.  MSS.,  8102,  f.  49b.  See  appendix  I.  In  a  deed  relative  to  some  property 
pertaining  to  All  Saints'  church,  dated  4th  March,  7  Edw.  VI.,  Gregory  Hawkswell  is 
mentioned  as  residing  in  a  house  in  Bag  Lane.  There  is  a  notion  current  in  Derby 
that  Bag  Lane  is  a  name  of  modern  devising,  and  that  the  street  used  to  be  called 
Castle  Gate.  This  is  a  complete  error.  We  have  met  with  the  name  Bag  Lane  in 
charters,  circa  1150. 


s.  PETER' 8.  151 

Henry  VIII.,  granted  various  tenements  in  Derby  to  William 
Collier,  vicar  of  the  parish,  and  seven  others,  as  trustees,  after  the 
death  of  himself  and  his  wife,  to  the  intent  that  the  rents  should 
be  given  to  his  priest,  Ealph  Ley,  and  his  successors,  for  saying 
daily  mass,  in  a  chapel  within  the  parish  church,  for  the  souls  of 
the  said  Robert  and  Alice  his  wife ;  and  further,  that  on  every 
Friday  thirteen  poor  men  or  women  present  at  the  mass  should 
each  receive  a  silver  penny.  Tradition  has  it  that  the  chapel  per- 
taining to  Robert  Liversage,  shut  off  by  a  parclose  or  screen,  was 
at  the  east  end  of  the  nave  on  the  north  side,  immediately  in  front 
of  the  pulpit.  The  present  vicar,  Rev.  W.  Hope,  tells  us  that  he 
has  talked  with  those  who  recollected  the  "hearse"  of  Robert 
Liversage  standing  within  the  parclose.  This  would  probably  be 
the  framework  over  the  tomb,  in  which  the  funeral  tapers  would  be 
fixed.  A  portion  of  this  parclose  was  discovered  under  the  floor  of 
the  pews  when  they  were  removed  in  1859. 

The  church  of  S.  Peter  consists  of  nave  and  aisles,  chancel, 
north  vestry,  and  tower  at  the  west  end.  The  following  is  the 
area,  according  to  Mr.  Rawlins'  measurements  : — Nave,  37  ft.  5  in. 
by  20  ft.  6  in.  ;  north  aisle,  86  ft.  by  16  ft.  3  in.  ;  south  aisle, 
52  ft.  10  in.  by  19  ft.  ;  and  chancel,  38  ft.  6  in.  by  22  ft.  11  in. 
The  greater  length  of  the  south  aisle  arises  from  the  fact  that  the 
tower  is  engaged  on  that  side,  and  used  to  open  into  the  aisle  by 
a  lofty  arch  now  closed. 

The  earliest  work  about  the    church   is   the    Norman    capitals    to 
the   octagonal   responds  of  the  aisle   arcades,  on   each   side   of  the 
chancel  arch,  and  also  the  circular  respond  at  the  west  end  of  the 
south  aisle.      The  nave  is  divided  from  each  aisle  by  three  pointed 
arches,  supported   by  circular   columns  on   the   north   side,  and  by 
octagon  ones  on  the  south.      These  arcades,  as  well  as  the  windows 
of  the   two   aisles,   are  of   14th  century  date.     The   tracery  of  the 
south- aisle  windows  is  of  a  remarkable  geometrical  design,  but  that 
of    the    north    aisle    is   of   a    freer    and  apparently  later    character. 
Probably  the    altar  of    Our    Lady  was    in  the  south  aisle,  and  that 
of    S.  Nicholas    in    the    north    aisle ;    but    it   may   be  well  here  to 
remark,   that   although   the   dates    seem   very  nearly  to   correspond 
with   the  style,  it   is  not   necessary  to  suppose   that  the  foundation 
of   chantries    at    altars   in    the  aisles  always  implied  the  rebuilding 
of  those  aisles.    The  south   doorway  is  a  good  sample  of  Decorated 
work.      It    has    at    different    times,  in    its    history    been    screened 
by   two    successive    porches,  as    is    shown   by  the   weather-Hues   in 


152  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

the  masonry.  But  it  has  no  porch  now,  nor  did  a  porch  form 
part  of  the  original  design.  Several  drawings  that  we  have 
seen  of  this  church  early  in  the  present  century  show  a  porch 
that  looks  to  be  of  Queen  Anne  date.  This  was  removed  in 
1865.  The  south  windows  and  general  features  of  the  chancel 
are  also  of  the  Decorated  period.  Considerable  alterations  were 
made  in  the  fabric  during  the  Perpendicular  period,  apparently 
about  the  time  of  Henry  VII.  The  high-pitch  roofs  were  lowered, 
the  walls  over  the  nave  arcades  raised,  and  clerestory  windows  of 
three  lights  inserted,  the  chancel  arch  widened,  the  east  end  of  the 
chancel  apparently  curtailed  of  a  bay  and  an  east  window  of  five 
lights  erected,*  and  the  tower,  with  double  bell-chamber  windows, 
rebuilt.  The  lower  stage  of  the  tower  seems  to  be  of  earlier  date; 
at  all  events  the  fine  lofty  archway  into  the  nave,  with  good  con- 
tinuous mouldings,  is  of  the  Decorated  style.  The  nave  and 
chancel  have  embattled  parapets.  Below  the  clerestory  parapets 
are  some  remarkable  gurgoyles.  The  three  on  the  south  side 
represent,  respectively — an  eagle  holding  a  cat,  a  lion  and  child,  a 
bear  and  key.  On  the  apex  of  the  chancel  gable  is  a  shield 
charged  with  the  crossed  keys  of  S.  Peter. 

The  tower  is  said  to  have  suffered  from  a  shock  of  earthquake 
about  the  year  1811,  and  a  crack  that  can  still  be  seen  below  the 
south  clerestory  window  nearest  the  tower  is  attributed  to  the  same 
cause.f  In  1817,  the  tower  was  underpinned,  and  the  lower  part 
of  the  west  wall  renewed  in  a  substantial  but  unsightly  fashion. 
The  chancel  was  restored  in  1852,  when  the  pews  and  large  impro- 
priator's  gallery  were  removed,  and  the  old  roof  timbers  exposed 
by  the  removal  of  the  flat  plaster  ceiling.  The  south  chancel 
window  nearest  to  the  east,  then  blocked  up,  was  filled  with  Per- 
pendicular tracery  to  correspond  with  that  in  the  east  window. 
The  nave  and  aisles  underwent  a  careful  and  judicious  restoration 
in  1859  under  Mr.  Street.  The  unsightly  galleries  J  that  blocked 
up  the  interior  of  the  church  were  at  that  time  removed. 
In  1865,  an  organ-chamber  was  made  at  the  east  end  of  the 
north  aisle,  the  south  porch  removed,  and  the  interesting  two- 

*  The  tracery  of  this  window  closely  resembles  that  of  the  east  windows  of  the 
churches  of  Duffield  and  Breadsall. 

t  This  would  he  the  same  earth-quake  or  tornado  that  damaged  the  tower  of  Kirk 
Ireton  church ;  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  p.  500. 

J  A  faculty  granted  to  Isaac  Borrow  by  the  Consistory  Court,  Lichfield,  dated  July 
6th,  1714,  gives  him  permission  to  erect  a  gallery,  20  ft.  long  by  16  broad,  over  the 
south  entrance  to  the  church.  The  faculty  recites  that  Isaac  Burrow  "armiger, 
iucola,  et  paterfamilias  "  within  the  parish,  although  he  had  built  an  august  and 
magnificent  mansion  in  the  parish,  had  not  a  single  seat  within  the  church.  To 
obtain  the  faculty  he  paid  five  pounds  towards  the  parish  expenses. 


s.  PETER'S.  153 

storied  vestry  on  the  north  of  the  chancel  was  to  a  considerable 
extent  rebuilt.  A  remarkable  squint,  from  the  upper  vestry  to 
the  high  altar,  was  at  that  time  uncovered,  and  is  still  open. 
A  small  piscina  on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel  is  so  close  to 
the  east  wall  that  it  confirms  the  theory  of  a  bay  of  the  chancel 
having  been  removed  —  probably  for  the  purpose  of  widening 
the  street.  There  is  another  piscina,  with  a  trefoil  niche,  in 
the  south  wall  of  the  south  aisle.  On  each  side  of  the  east 
window  of  both  aisles  are  the  obvious  places  whence  projecting 
corbels  have  been  broken  off,  and  the  same  thing  may  be  remarked 
on  the  respond  by  the  pulpit.  Some  portions  of  fresco  painting 
were  exposed  at  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle  in  1859,  of  which 
certain  faint  traces  still  remain.  There  are  also  some  traces  of 
colour  on  several  of  the  capitals  of  the  columns,  and  also  some 
faintly-marked  scrollwork  on  the  jambs  of  the  east  window  of  the 
south  aisle.  A  stone  coffin,  containing  a  complete  skeleton,  was 
found  only  a  few  inches  below  the  floor,  between  the  two  pillars 
of  the  north  arcade. 

The  effective  chancel  screen  of  Perpendicular  date,  that  found 
here  a  sanctuary  after  it  was  discarded  from  the  parish  church  of 
Crich,  has  been  already  mentioned  ;  but  there  is  another  piece  of 
woodwork  that  should  not  escape  notice.  We  allude  to  the  remark- 
ably fine  carving  of  an  old  14th  century  chest,  now  standing  on 
the  north  side  of  the  chancel,  and  utilised  for  vestments  (Plate 
VII.)  It  is  undoubtedly  of  Flemish  workmanship.  Similar  ones 
may  be  seen  at  Brancepeth,  Durham  ;  at  Wath,  near  Kipon ;  at 
Wroot,  and  at  Haconby,*  Lincolnshire.  The  poor-box  affixed  to 
the  south-west  respond  is  also  of  old  Flemish  work,  but  was  a 
recent  giftNto  the  church.  The  tie-beams  of  the  nave  roof  give 
the  different  dates  at  which  it  was  repaired,  though  one  at  least 
of  them  pertained  to  the  original  Perpendicular  roof.  On  the  beam 
nearest  the  west  is  cut,  "  T.  W.  E.  C.  1646  ;"  and  on  the  one 
nearest  the  east,  "  W.  0.  Vic.  1672.  T.  M.  I.  W.  CH.  W.  T.  M." 
An  embattled  line  on  the  west  gable  of  the  chancel  shows  below 
the  present  roof,  and  its  presence  there  is  rather  puzzling.  Our 
conjecture  is  that  the  roof  of  the  chancel  involving  this  altera- 
tion was  lowered  some  little  time  before  the  pitch  of  the  nave 
roof  was  changed. 

Various  incised  sepulchral  slabs  were  utilised  in  the  14th  century 

*  The  chest  in  Haconby  church  is  most  remarkably  similar  in  all  its  details.  In 
Shaw's  Furniture  is  a  drawing  of  'this  chest,  where  it  is  described  as  circa  1350,  or 
rather  earlier. 


154  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

for  the  rebuilding  of  the  walls.  One  fragment,  with  a  circular 
head,  may  be  noted  over  the  pulpit ;  another  in  the  north  aisle, 
over  the  arcade  ;  and  several  in  the  south  wall  of  the  south  aisle. 
They  seem  to  be  of  the  12th  century.  At  the  east  end  of  the 
south  aisle  is  a  piece  of  a  massive  coffin-lid,  ornamented  with  a 
cross  in  relief,  which  is  of  Early  English  date.  A  slab  of  unusual 
design,  which  appears  to  pertain  to  early  in  the  13th  century,  is 
given  on  Plate  VII.  It  is  built  into  the  south  wall,  near  the  floor 
level. 

Against  the  west  wall  of  the  south  aisle  are  two  fragments  of 
alabaster  slabs.  One  of  these  bears  the  lower  half  of  a  female 
figure,  and  the  following  portion  of  a  marginal  inscription : — 

" erne  et  filia  Johis  Fowcher  *  que  obiit  «t-.r  die  mensis 

NovemV  in  Vigilia  Sci  Andrie  anno  dni  M°CCCC " 

The  other  fragment  shows  the  foot  of  a  man  in  the  centre,  with 
boy's  feet  to  his  left,  and  the  following  remnant  of  an  inscrip- 
tion : — "  .  .  .  .  ni  MCCCCCIV0  et  Elena  obi  it  iiii°  ilie  Fcbr' 
anno  dni  M  .  .  .  •"  There  is  also  a  shield  charged  with  three 
stirrups  (?)t  and  the  words  "...  ppicietur  deus"  by  it. 

Several  17th  century  monuments — the  inscriptions  of  which  were 
taken  by  Bassano  in  1710,  and  have  been  reproduced  in  Simpson's 
Derby — have  long  since  disappeared.  On  a  brass  plate  against  the 
east  wall  of  the  .south  aisle  is  this  inscription  : — 

"Elizabeth  Wilcocks  sometyme  servant  unto  the  right  worshipful  Sr  John 
Stanhope  of  Elvaston  in  the  County  of  Derby,  Knight,  did,  by  her  last  will  and 
testament,  give  unto  the  poore  of  the  several  parishes  of  Ashwell  in  the  County 
of  Rutland,  of  Alvaston  in  the  said  County  of  Derby,  and  of  S*  Peter's  in  the 
towne  of  Derby,  one  messuage  or  tenement  with  the  appurtenances  situate  and 
being  nigh  S*  Peters  bridge  end  in  Derby  aforesaid,  Now  or  late  in  the  tenure  or 
occupation  of  one  Anthony  Spicer.  The  rents  and  profltts  thereof  yearly  to  be 
distributed  amongst  the  poore  of  the  said  parishes  upon  the  feast  day  of  S* 
Thomas  the  Apostle,  by  the  Executors  during  their  lives,  and  after  their  decease 
by  the  Parsons  or  Vicars  and  Churchwardens  of  the  said  parishes  for  the  tyme 
being  for  ever,  in  manner  and  fome  following  (viz*).  To  the  poore  of  the  parish 
of  Ashwell  aforesaid,  one  half  of  the  yearly  profltts  of  the  said  messuage  or  tene- 
ment to  be  equally  divided  into  two  parts,  and  one  part  thereof  to  the  poore  of 
the  said  parishe  of  Elvaston,  and  the  other  part  thereof  to  the  poore  of  the  said 
parish  of  S*  Peters.  She  dyed  the  12th  day  of  July  Anno  Dui  1648. 


I.  C.     )   C  H  :   War. 
T.  W.  /          1652." 


*  The  family  of  Foucher  were  at  an  early  date  considerable  landowners  at  Osmastin, 
in  this  parish,  as  will  be  subsequently  noted.  They  were  extinct  at  the  time  of  the 
Heraldic  Visitations,  temp.  Elizabeth,  so  that  we  have  no  accurate  pedigrees.  One  of 
the  family  was  chaplain  to  the  chantry  of  Our  Lady  in  this  church,  as  has  been 
already  seen,  from  1391  to  1398.  A  lady  of  the  family,  Joan  Foucher,  was  instituted 
prioress  of  the  convent  of  S.  Mary's,  Derby,  in  1334. — Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers. 

t  The  Giffard  arms  were—  az..  three  stirrups  with  leathers,  or.  Their  connection 
with  this  county  is  shown  in  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol,  iii.,  p.  92,  etc. 


PLATE    VI. 


s.  PETER'S.  155 

The  tower  contains  a  ring  of  five  bells  : — 

I.  "Jesus  be  our  speed  -  John  Daye     T.  H.     1636." 

II.  "God  save  our  King,   1636." 

III.  "Jos  :    Taberer   &   Hen.  Every  Ch- Wardens,"   the   founder's 
mark  of  Abraham  Eudhall,  and  the  date  "  1738." 

IV.  "  Gloria  Deo  in  excelsis.     William  Duffield,  Thomas  Skinner, 
CWTH.,  1636." 

V.  "•!  to  the  Church  the  living  call, 

&  to  the  grave  do  summon  all,  1769." 

The  oldest  register  begins  in  March,  1558.  Down  to  the  year 
1591  it  is  a  transcript  of  an  older  one,  made  by  the  hand  of 
Kobert  Mason,  vicar.  There  are  three  considerable  blanks  within 
these  years — viz.,  from  July,  1558,  to  August,  1560 ;  from  Feb- 
ruary, 1570,  to  April,  1572  ;  and  from  September,  1576,  to  July, 
1582.  There  is  also  a  gap  of  five  months  in  the  year  1605. 
There  are  several  entries  relative  to  deaths  from  the  Plague  at 
different  periods,  but  these  we  have  already  enumerated  in  a  note 
to  All  Saints'  registers.  In  the  years  1658-60  the  burials  of  many 
"prisoners"  are  entered — e.y.,  "1658,  October  23,  Henry  Lummas, 
prisoner  of  Bagshaw  in  Chappell  parish;"  and  "1660,  September  6, 
Gervise  Price  a  prisoner  of  the  towne  of  Tickill  in  Yorkshire." 

Those  acquainted  with  Hutton's  entertaining  History  of  Derby,  will 
recollect  his  story  of  one  Noah  Bullock,  who  called  his  three  sons 
Shem,  Ham,  and  Japheth,  and  built  an  ark  on  the  Derwent,  where 
he  resided,  and  for  a  long  time  carried  on,  with  the  aid  of  his 
sons,  the  unpatriarchal  occupation  of  a  coiner  of  false  money.  From 
S.  Peter's  registers  we  find  that  his  sons  were  actually  baptised  by 
these  names,  being  respectively  christened  in  the  years  1670,  1672, 
and  1681.  Noah  Bullock  was  married  to  Anna  Clarke  in  1667, 
and,  in  addition  to  the  three  sons  already  mentioned,  they  had 
also  a  son  Benjamin,  and  five  daughters — Anna,  Eebecca,  Jephtha, 
Maria,  and  Elizabeth.  Noah,  having  escaped  the  halter  through 
the  clemency  of  Sir  Simon  Degge,  died  a  natural  death  in  1687. 

The  chalice  of  the  Eucharistic  plate  is  thus  inscribed  : — 

"  The  silver  of  this  chalice  given  by  Elizabeth  Willughby  1666  was  remodelled 
in  the  year  of  grace  1857  in  honour  of  God  and  for  use  of  the  Church  of  St 
Peter's  Derby.  "W.  Hope,  M.A.  Vicar,  Eobert  Russell,  William  Cantrell,  Church- 
wardens." 

The   paten   and   flagon   were  at  the  same  time  recast  from  the  old 
silver  ones,  given  by  Thomas  Swinerton  in  the  year  1686. 


156  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 


of  Boulton. 


[HE  manor  of  Boulton,  within  the  parish  of  S.  Peter, 
belonged,  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  to  Kalph 
Fitzhubert.  Shortly  afterwards  it  seems  to  have  passed 
to  the  family  of  Sacheverell.  Eents  to  the  value  of  twelve  shil- 
lings per  annum  were  given  to  the  chapel  of  Boulton,  as  early  as 
the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  by  Kobert  de  Sacheverell.  This  gift  was 
confirmed,  in  the  reign  of  King  John,  by  Oliver  de  Sacheverell, 
grandson  of  Eobert.  Further  lands  were  given  to  the  chapel  by 
the  same  family,  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Henry  III., 
which  grants  were  confirmed  by  Sir  Patrick  de  Sacheverell,  son  of 
Oliver,  in  1250.  Sir  Eobert  de  Sacheverell,  son  of  Sir  Patrick  by 
Joan,  daughter  of  Eobert  de  Vavasour,  not  only  claimed  to  present 
to  a  vacancy  in  the  chaplaincy — which  occurred  in  1271 — but  al^o 
contended  that  Boulton  was  an  independent  church.  In  this  claim 
he  was  resisted  by  the  Abbot  of  Darley,  as  rector  of  S.  Peter's. 
A  writ  was  issued  to  Sir  Hugh  de  Babiugtou,  sheriff  of  Derby 
and  Nottingham,  enjoining  him  to  empanel  a  jury  of  twelve  free- 
men acquainted  with  the  district  to  try  the  case.  The  cause  was 
heard  on  the  Wednesday  following  the  feast  of  the  Assumption, 
when  it  was  agreed  that  Sir  Eobert  de  Sacheverell,  in  consideration 
of  twenty  marks  paid  to  him  by  the  abbot,  should  recognise  the 
chapel  of  Boultou  as  in  the  parish  of  S.  Peter,  and  therefore  per- 
taining to  the  abbey  of  Darley.  Sir  Eobert  was  to  nominate  a 
suitable  priest,  who  was  to  be  admitted  to  the  chaplaincy  by  the 
abbot.  The  chaplain  was  to  have  for  his  support  the  messuage, 
the  three  bovates  of  land,  the  nine  sellifms  of  land,  and  the  twelve 
shillings  in  rents — all  within  the  town  and  territory  of  Boulton — 


BOULTON.  157 

which  the  ancestors  of  Sir  Eobert  had  bestowed  upon  the  chapel. 
It  was  also  agreed  that  the  chaplain  was  to  have  the  small  tithes, 
in  the  same  way  as  Eobert,  the  lately-deceased  chaplain,  who  had 
been  presented  by  Geoffrey  Barri,  the  guardian  of  Patrick  de 
Sacheverell. 

On  the  feast  of  S.  Michael,  in  the  same  year,  a  further  agree- 
ment as  to  details  was  drawn  up  between  the  parties,  when  it 
was  settled  that  the  chaplain  was  to  be  subject  to  the  mother 
church  of  S.  Peter ;  that  he  was  to  be  removable  by  the  abbot,  if 
neglecting  his  duty  ;  that  the  abbot  was  to  pay  one  mark  annually 
to  the  chaplain — half  at  the  feast  of  the  Purification,  and  half  at 
the  feast  of  S.  James  ;  that  the  tithes  and  preventions  of  the 
house  and  family  of  Eobert  de  Sacheverell  and  his  heirs,  together 
with  all  oblations,  were  to  go  to  the  chaplain  ;  that  the  tithes  of 
corn  were  to  be  received  by  the  abbot,  but  that  the  lesser  tithes 
pertained  to  the  vicar  of  S.  Peter's.  This  agreement  was  again 
finally  confirmed  by  Sacheverell  and  the  abbot  at  Easter,  1280.* 

The  Chantry  Eoll  of  the  first  year  of  Edward  VI.   says : — 

"  The  Chappell  in  BOUGHTON  founded  by  Eoberte  Zachaverell  to  mynyster 
Sacraments  and  Sacramentalls  ijs.  viijd.  clere  xlvijs.  viijd.  besyds  iiijs.  to  the 
Kyng.  Sir  Humfreye  Shelley  Curate.  It  is  distante  from  the  Parishe  Churche 
ij  miles.  A  mancyon  praised  at  vs.  by  yere.  Stock  lijs.  vijd." 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  give  the 
following  inventory  of  this  chapel : — 

"  Oct.  5th  Humfraye  Shelley  curat.  i  chalice  parcell  gylte  of  sylver — ij  belles 
in  the  steple — j  coope  of  twylle—  j  vestemeiit  of  dun  sylke  with  j  albe —  iij  aulter 
clothes — j  towell — j  handbell— j  corporas  with  j  case— j  surples." 

Iii  the  year  1550  the  crown  alienated  the  chaplain's  house  at 
Boulton,  together  with  the  whole  of  the  endowments  given  by  the 
Sacheverells  to  the  chapel,  and  granted  them  to  Thomas  Eeve  and 
George  Cotton,t  though  it  was  clearly  a  great  stretch  of  the  statute 
that  could  bring  these  endowments  under  the  head  of  "  super- 
stitious us.es,"  or  of  chantries  proper,  as  there  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  any  stipulation  as  to  masses  attached  to  these  bequests. 
From  the  time  that  Edward  VI.  stripped  Boulton  of  its  endow- 

•  Darley  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  ff.  40b,  94b,  95, 100.  The  first  settle- 
ment of  tiie  Sacheverells  in  this  county  seems  to  have  been  at  Boulton,  and  then  at 
Hopewell.  It  was  not  till  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.  that  they  obtained  Morley,  by 
marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Statham;  see  the  pedigree  (chiefly  taken  from  Thoroton) 
in  Fox's  History  of  Morley  Church.  Ralph  Sacheverell  died  seized  of  the  manor  of 
Boulton,  4  Hen.  VII. ;  William  Sacheverell,  who  died  5  Philip  &  Mary,  held  36  acres 
here  of  the  crown ;  and  Henry  Sacheverell,  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  also  held  lands 
in  Boulton.  Meynell  MSS. 

t  Patent  Bolls,  3  Edw.  VI.,  pt.  4,  memb.  9. 


158  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

merits,  it  seems  to  have  been  jointly  served  together  with  Alvaston 
by  one  minister.  In  1650,  the  Parliamentary  Commissioners  thus 
report : — 

"Bolton  a  chappell  reputed  a  member  of  Peters  but  hath  beene  long  united 
to  Alvastone,  the  vicarall  tythes  worth  five  pounds  per  annum  and  fitt  wth 
Alvastone  to  be  united  to  Elvastone." 

It  does  not,  however,  seem  that  the  alienation  of  the  glebe 
land — which  passed  from  Eeeve  and  Cotton  to  the  family  of 
Burdett — remained  unresisted  ;  for  in  1684  it  was  found  that 
Joseph  Cope,  clerk,  had  been  for  seven  years  chaplain  of  Boulton ; 
and  that  the  messuage,  land,  and  tithes  were  of  the  yearly  value 
of  £15  and  upwards ;  and  that  the  small  tithes  arising  in  Boulton, 
and  belonging  to  the  chapel  (?  to  the  vicar  of  S.  Peter's),  were  of 
the  yearly  value  of  £3;  and  that  Sir  F.  Bui'dett  had  for  ten  years 
received  the  rent  and  profits  of  the  same  messuage,  lands,  and 
tithes ;  and  that  Joseph  Cope  had  for  seven  years  taken  all  the 
small  tithes  due  within  Boulton  ;  and  that  Sir  F.  Burdett  should 
pay  to  the  said  Joseph  Cope  £105,  upon  the  5th  of  October  then 
next,  in  the  chapel  of  Boulton.  for  the  profits  for  seven  years.* 

Boulton  technically  became  a  benefice  in  1730  by  augmentation 
from  Queen  Anne's  Bounty,  which  made  the  then  curate  a  per- 
petual curate. 

The  dedication  of  this  church  or  chapel  has  not  been  hitherto 
known,  but  we  have  found  it  more  than  once  described  in  the  Darley 
Chartulary  as  the  chapel  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  The  church 
now  consists  of  nave,  north  aisle,  south  porch,  and  chancel,  having 
been  recently  enlarged.  Mr.  Rawlins'  notes,  taken  in  1824,  give 
the  dimensions  of  the  nave  as  34  ft.  by  18  ft.  10  in.,  and  of  the 
chancel  21  ft.  3  in.  by  13  ft.  4  in.  In  1840  the  church  was 
extended  some  twelve  feet  to  the  west,  repewed,  and  generally 
repaired  at  a  cost  of  £483  8s.  lOd.  In  1871  it  was  again  enlarged 
and  restored  by  the  addition  of  a  north  aisle,  a  north  chancel 
vestry,  and  the  substitution  of  a  comely  bell-turret  on  the  west 
gable  for  the  mean  wooden  box  that  was  placed  there  in  1841. 
Previous  to  the  latter  date,  as  we  find  from  a  drawing  of  Mr. 
Meynell's,  there  was  a  diminutive  four-sided  slated  spire  on  the 
west  gable.  The  various  alterations  of  this  last  restoration  cost 
£1083  13s.  4d. 

The   south    doorway,  within    the  porch,  is  of   Norman    date.     It 

*  From  papers  kindly  lent  mo  hy  Rev.  E.  Poole,  vicar  of  Boulton  and  Alvaston. 


BOULTON.  159 

has  a  square  doorcase  aud  rounded  tympanum  over  it.  The 
moulding  above  the  tympanum  is  of  the  chevron  pattern,  and  on 
the  hood-mould  is  a  lozenge  pattern.  The  jambs  have  shafts  and 
capitals.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  recent  restoration  the  chancel 
arch  was  also  Norman,  and  ornamented  with  a  double  chevron 
moulding ;  but  this  has  now  been  taken  down,  and  the  "best  stones 
re-used  in  constructing  the  doorway  into  the  north  vestry.  Sir 
Stephen  Glynn's  notes,  taken  May  5th,  1866,  say  that  "one 
window  on  the  north  of  the  nave  is  a  small  Norman  one."  This 
deeply-splayed  light,  with  an  opening  20  in.  by  6  in.,  has  been 
moved  to  the  vestry.  He  also  noticed  a  lancet  window  with  a 
trefoil  head  in  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel,  near  to  the  east  end. 
This  used  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  "Devil's  Window." 
It  was  supposed  to  be  placed  at  such  an  angle  of  the  building 
as  to  admit  the  earliest  rays  of  the  rising  sun,  whereby  the  evil 
spirits  would  be  expelled  from  the  church.  The  two  sides  of  this 
window  were  parted  in  1871.  and,  a  centre  mullion  being  inserted,  it 
now  serves  as  a  two-light  window  in  the  north  wall  of  the  vestry. 
This  window  was  of  Early  English  date,  and  to  that  time  undoubt- 
edly belong  the  two  shallow  buttresses  at  the  angles  of  the 
chancel.  The  two-light  pointed  east  window,  with  a  quatrefoil  in 
the  apex,  is  of  Decorated  design,  circa  1300.  The  top  of  this 
window  is  cut  off  in  the  interior  by  a  flat  plaster  ceiling.  The 
date  of  this  roof,  as  well  as  of  the  two  square-headed  south  windows, 
divided  by  a  plain  central  mullion,  is  probably  given  on  a  stone 
built  into  the  chancel  gable,  which  bears — "W.  R.  I.  W.  C.  W. 
1706." 

The  south  wall  of  the  nave  was  rebuilt  in  1871  ;  the  windows 
are  of  Perpendicular  design.  The  porch,  which  is  of  fourteenth 
century  or  Decorated  date,  has  a  doorway  with  cinquefoil  folia- 
tions. Its  side  windows  are  worth  noting,  as  the  upper  part 
of  their  interior  splay  is  finished  off  in  an  unusual  way. 

Mr.  Eawlins  (1820)  mentions,  on  the  floor  of  the  chancel,  "  an 
alabaster  slab,  the  effigy  whereon  was  that  of  a  priest  now  entirely 
worn  away  from  frequent  passing  over  it,  except  the  part  from 
the  head  to  the  waist."  He  also  noticed,  within  the  altar  rails, 
on  another  alabaster  slab,  "  the  faint  remains  of  an  Ecclesiastic 
and  his  wife  (?)."  This  alabaster,  then  wholly  illegible,  was  used 
in  1871  for  the  construction  of  a  pulpit,  the  wood  of  the  former 
one  being  utilised  for  a  vestry  cupboard.  Before  the  last  altera- 
tions there  was  a  rounded  founder's  recess  under  one  of  the  south 


160  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

windows  of  the  nave.  If  we  look  at  the  step  to  the  altar,  in  front 
of  the  rails,  we  shall  find  that  it  is  in  part  composed  of  a  long 
narrow  stone,  six  and  a  half  feet  long,  i.e.,  just  the  length  of  the 
old  recess,  on  which  there  has  heen  at  one  time  incised  a  cross, 
some  of  the  base  of  which  still  remains.  This  stone  was  in  all 
possibility  moved  here  from  its  original  position  within  the  recess 
in  1706,  and  is  most  likely  the  memorial  of  the  Sacheverell  who 
originally  founded  this  chapel. 

During  the  alterations  of  1840,  several  old  encaustic  tiles  were 
found.  These  are  now  in  the  pavement  near  the  pulpit.  One  of 
them  has  the  monogram  M,  another  is  an  alphabet  tile,  two  of 
them  have  heads  like  those  of  Edward  I.  and  Eleanor,  and  on 
another  are  two  keys  in  saltire.  This  last  one  we  believe  to  be 
a  hitherto  unique  pattern,  see  Plate  VI.  ;  it  doubtless  came  from 
the  tile  kiln  at  Dale  Abbey,  for  numerous  tiles  of  the  other 
patterns  have  been  found  there  during  the  autumn  excavations 
of  1878. 

There  is  now  a  modern  font.  Eawlins  speaks  of  it  being 
"  circular  and  plain,"  probably  the  original  Norman  one.  A 
movable  Norman  stoup  was  recently  rescued  from  an  adjacent 
farmyard,  and  now  rests  in  the  porch.  It  is  of  peculiar  shape, 
being  embraced  by  four  ribs  (Plate  VI.),  and  is  much  like  the 
old  font  recently  replaced  in  the  church  of  Darley  Dale. 

Of  the  two  bells,  one  is  altogether  uninscribed  and  unmarked ; 
on  the  other  is—"  J.  Taylor  &  Co  Loughborough  1870."  The 
diameter  of  both  of  them  is  19£  inches. 

The  registers,  kept  in  common  with  those  of  Alvaston,  begin 
in  1614. 

On  the  back  of  the  royal  arms,  recently  removed  from  the 
church,  was  written: — "These  Arms  were  painted  by  John  Rother- 
ham  of  Derby  in  the  61st  year  of  his  age,  1793." 


NORM ANTON.  161 


Cljapelrg   of  Normanton. 


I  HAT  there  was  a  chapel  here  in  early  Norman  days,  cannot 
be  doubted,  from  the  remains  of  work  of  that  date  in 
the  old  fabric  ;  but  the  earliest  historical  mention  that 
we  liave  found  of  it  occurs  in  the  year  1288,  when  the  abbot  of 
Davley,  as  rector  of  S.  Peter's,  had  a  dispute  with  the  parishioners 
of  the  chapel  of  Normanton  respecting  the  repairs,  etc.,  of  the 
building.  It  was  settled,  by  an  award  of  the  Archdeacon  of  Derby- 
shire, that  the  abbot  was  to  repair  the  chancel,  and  to  sustain  all 
the  ornaments,  except  one  missal,  one  chalice,  and  two  vestments 
for  festivals,  which  were  to  be  provided  by  the  parishioners.*  It 
seems  that  the  parishioners  had  hoped  to  succeed  in  compelling 
the  abbey  to  also  repair  the  nave  ;  for  they  were  large  landowners 
here,  having  had  the  manor  of  Normanton  granted  to  them  by  the 
crown  in  1234.f  The  manor  was  granted  to  the  Babingtons  by 
Henry  VIII.,  on  the  dissolution  of  the  abbey. 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners  of   1650  say: — 

"  Normanton  is  another  chappell  apperteyning  to  Peters  the  profitts  thereof 
is  accompted  for  in  the  first  mencioned  fortye  pounds  and  both  Osmaston  and 
Normanton  lye  neare  to  Peters  are  fitt  to  continue  (?)  and  both  chappells 
disused." 

The  old  chapel  consisted  of  nave  and  chancel,  with  a  low  tower 
surmounted  by  a  broach  spire  at  the  west  end.  Mr.  Eawlins,  who 
was  here  in  1820,  gives  the  dimensions  of  the  nave  at  30  ft.  4  in. 
by  17  ft.  1  in.,  and  the  chancel  at  16  ft.  10  in.  by  15  ft.  6  in. 
The  chancel  was  divided  from  the  nave  by  a  low  Norman  arch. 
The  chancel  itself,  excepting  the  lower  courses  of  the  walls,  was 
of  modern  brick.  A  corbel-table  of  Norman  date,  with  quaintly- 
carved  heads,  ran  the  entire  length  of  the  nave  on  each  side.  On 
the  south  side  of  the  church  was  a  pointed  doorway  of  14th 

*  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  f.  101. 
t  Rot.  Chart.  19  Henry  III.,  pt.  1,  memb.  1. 
12 


162  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

century  date  ;  but  the  dripstone  over  it  was  of  Norman  zig-zag 
moulding,  which  had  clearly  been  used  up  again  when  the  older 
doorway  was  destroyed.  Close  to  this  doorway  was  built-in  a 
singularly-carved  stone  that  had  been  the  tympanum  of  the  Norman 
doorway.  The  centre  figure  of  the  sculpture  is  our  Lord  on  the 
cross  ;  but  the  other  figures,  which  were  much  worn  when  the  old 
church  was  taken  down,  are  now  almost  wholly  defaced.*  This 
tympanum  was  preserved  by  being  built  into  the  outer  south  wall 
of  the  new  tower.  It  would  have  been  much  better  if  an  inner 
wall  had  been  selected.  In  the  west  wall  of  the  tower  was  a  lancet 
window,  widely  splayed  inside.  This  window  and  the  buttresses  at 
the  angles  showed  that  the  tower  was  of  Early  English  character. 
The  tower  was  only  twenty  feet  high ;  but  it  had  evidently  been 
lowered  at  the  time  when  the  xigly  broach  spire — rising  another 
twenty  feet,  and  composed  of  brick  and  stucco — was  added. 
The  brickwork  of  the  spire  and  the  chancel  was  probably  part  of 
the  beautifying  effected  here  in  the  last  century.  A  slate  tablet 
against  the  old  chancel  arch  informed  its  readers  that — "  This 
Church  was  Beautified  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1749.  John  Wil- 
kinson, Churchwarden."  On  the  north  side  of  the  nave  was  a 
two-light  window  of  Decorated  date. 

Owing  to  its  limited  size,  the  old  church  was  taken  down;  the 
work  of  demolition  commencing  on  May  27th,  1861.  The  new 
building  consists  of  chancel,  nave,  south  aisle,  tower,  and  spire. 
It  is  dedicated,  like  its  predecessor,  to  S.  Giles.  It  is  now  an 
independent  vicarage,  in  the  gift  of  trustees. 

The  font,  which  pertained  to  the  old  fabric,  is  of  plain  octagon 
design,  29  in.  in  diameter  and  45  in.  high.  We  believe  it  to  be 
of  early  14th  century  date — certainly  not  of  any  older  period.  The 
single  bell  is  thus  inscribed : — 

"W.  D.  Knight,  Samuel  Pegg,  George  Stenson,  C.W.,  1712. 
J.  Osbrn  Vic.  D.  H." 

On  the  silver  paten  and  chalice  of  the  Eucharistic  plate  are  the 
arms  and  quarterings  of  Harpur,  and  this  inscription : — "  The  gift 
of  the  Lady  Barbera  Harpur,  1645."  This  lady — widow  of  Sir 
Henry  Harpur,  of  Calke — was  by  her  first  marriage  the  wife  of 
Sir  Henry  Beaumont.  The  connection  of  the  Beaumonts  with 
Normanton  has/  already  been  mentioned  in  our  account  of  the 
mother  church. 

*  There  is  a  pood  woodcut  of  this  tympanum  in  vol.  ii.  of  the  Reliquary,  where 
there  is  an  excellent  and  well-illustrated  article  on  Normanton  chapel,  written  by  Mr. 
Jewitt.  just  at  the  time  when  the  old  fabric  was  being  destroyed. 


OSMASTON.  163 


of 


the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  the  manor  of  Osmaston 
was  held  by  Henry  de  Ferrers.  His  grandson,  Kobert  de 
Ferrers — one  of  the  chief  founders  of  Darley  Abbey — 
gave  to  that  establishment,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  II.,  lands  at 
Osmaston  then  valued  at  a  rental  of  six  shillings,*  and  also  the 
oratory  at  Osmaston,  with  its  cemetery.f  Osmaston  was,  from  an 
early  date,  held  of  the  Ferrers  by  the  family  of  Dun  or  Dunne, 
whose  chief  residence  was  at  Breadsall.J  Robert  de  Dun,  lord  of 
Breadsall,  circa  1155,  for  the  health  of  his  soul  and  the  souls  of 
his  wife  and  heirs,  gave  to  the  abbey  of  Darley  all  right  that  he 
had  as  patron  of  the  chapel  of  Osmaston,  upon  condition  of  the 
abbot  paying  yearly,  at  Michaelmas,  two  shillings  to  the  church  of 
Breadsall.  He  undertook  to  defend  them  in  their  right  to  the 
chapel  against  all  comers. §  It  would  appear  from  this  that  the 
Dunnes  were  the  first  founders  of  the  chapel  of  Osmaston,  which 
had  hitherto  been  of  the  nature  of  a  private  chapel,  as  we  judge 
from  the  use  of  the  word  oratorium.  It  also  had  had  the  excep- 
tional privilege  of  rites  of  sepulture  attached  to  it,  which  were 
probably,  however,  limited  to  the  family  of  the  owner  of  the  manor 
and  his  immediate  servants. 

Walter   Durdent,  who  held   the  bishopric  of  Coventry  and   Lich- 
field   from   1149    to    1161,    confirmed    the   grant   of    the   chapel   of 

*  "  Sex  solidatce  terra."  It  is  more  usual  to  understand  a  solidata  of  land  as 
meaning  twelve  acres,  and  not  a  piece  fetching  a  shilling  rental ;  but,  from  com- 
paring various  passages  in  old  charters,  we  are  inclined  to  adopt  the  latter  meaning — 
moreover,  so  far  as  Osmaston  is  concerned,  we  know  that  the  abbey  did  not  hold  72 
acres  there ;  a  return,  circa  1275,  of  their  temporalities  mentions  14  acres  at 
Osmaston.  See  Cowel's  Interpreter,  sub  voce  "  Farding  Deal." 

f  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  ii.,  p.  231. 

£  With  respect  to  the  family  of  Dunne,  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  53. 

§  Darley  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  f.  137. 


164  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Osmaston  to  the  abbey,  saving  one  mark  to  be  paid  to  the  mother 
church  of   S.  Peter. * 

Another  charter,  undated,  but  about  the  year  1245,  records  the 
appointment  by  Peter,  vicar  of  S.  Peter's,  with  the  full  consent  and 
at  the  wish  of  Walter,  abbot  of  Darley,  of  William  Grernon  to 
the  chapel  of  Osmaston,  with  all  its  appurtenances.  It  was  to  be 
held  of  him  and  of  the  mother  church  by  rendering  annually  to 
the  vicar  one  mark — half  payable  at  Easter  and  half  at  Michaelmas. 
William  Gernon  was  also  to  pay  annually  to  the  mother  church, 
for  the  use  of  a  house  at  Osmaston,  one  penny,  at  the  stated  times, 
for  waxshot  ;t  he  was  to  halve  the  first  mortuary  with  S.  Peter's, 
and  also  to  render  to  the  vicar  the  whole  of  the  customary  offer- 
ings of  the  parishioners  of  the  chapelry.* 

In  1288,  a  dispute  arose  between  the  inhabitants  of  Osmaston 
and  the  abbot  of  Darley  respecting  the  repair  of  the  chapel  and 
the  sustentation  of  its  ornaments.  It  was  referred  to  the  arch- 
deacon of  Derby,  and  settled  on  the  same  terms  as  already  detailed 
in  our  previous  description  of  Boulton. 

The  Black  Death,  or  plague,  to  which  we  have  more  than  once 
referred  in  the  introduction,  etc.,  of  this  volume,  seems  to  have  been 
specially  intense  within  the  parish  of  S.  Peter.  In  June,  1349, 
when  the  plague  was  at  its  height,  the  episcopal  license  of  Roger 
Northbury  was  obtained  for  opening  the  graveyard  at  Osmaston, 
which  had  hitherto  been  regulated  by  a  most  singular  custom,  to 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  chapelry.  It  is  stated  in  the  preamble 
to  the  license,  that  the  chapel  had  been  used  by  the  inhabitants 
from  ancient  times  for  the  Sacraments  and  sacrarnentals  ;  that  the 
bodies  of  single  persons  fa  conju;/ali  d/»niculo  solutorum)  were  buried 
in  the  cemetery  attached  to  the  chapel,  but  that  the  bodies  of 
householders  or  married  persons  were  carried  for  burial  to  the 
mother  church  of  S.  Peter.  This  carrying  of  the  bodies  to  Derby 
had  been  often  attended  with  inconvenience  and  danger,  owing  to 
delays  caused  by  inundations  and  other  unexpected  impediments  ; 
but  now,  in  these  days,  when  a  most  fatal  plague  was  raging 
throughout  the  parish,  the  corpses  were  so  numerous  that  they 
were  scarcely  able  to  bury  them.  The  Bishop,  therefore,  gave  his 
license  to  use  the  cemetery  henceforth  corporibus  tarn  conjiujatoruin 
quam  solutorum.^ 

*  Darley  Chartulary,  f.  157. 

t  Waxshot  (ceragium)  was  an  old  payment  for  providing  candleR  for  the  church  ;  it 
was  usually  paid  on  three  several  occasions  in  each  year. 
t  Ibid,  f .'  40.     See  appendix  No.  VIII. 
S  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  xiii.,  f.  71. 


OSMASTON.  1 65 

In  the  year  1357,  Robert  Foucher  (Fulger  or  Fulcher)  founded  a 
chautry,  at  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  within  the  chapel 
of  S.  James,*  at  Osmaston.t  He  endowed  it  with  certain  lands 
and  tenements  in  Osniaston  and  Normanton  ;  and  the  inquisition 
giving  permission  for  this  alienation  states  that  the  founder  retained 
other  lands  in  Osmastou,  as  well  as  in  Duffield  and  in  Cotton, 
the  latter  a  sub-manor  of  Normanton.!  For  the  royal  license- for 
this  grant  Foucher  paid  six  marks.  §  This  chantry,  chiefly  founded 
for  saying  Mass  for  the  souls  of  the  founder's  family,  did  not 
entail  a  second  priest  at  Osmaston,  but  was  held  by  the  curate  or 
chaplain.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  chantry  priests,  so  far  as 
they  are  mentioned  in  the  episcopal  institutions  at  Lichfield : — 

1357.  William  de  Tykenhal;  patron,  Robert  Foucher. 
1390.  John  Foucher ;  patron,  Helen  Foucher  de  Osmaston. 

1392.  Thomas  Lamley;  patron,  Helen  Foucher  de  Osmaston.    On  the  resignation 
of  J.  F. 

*  *  «  *  « 

.  William  Tyknal. 
1500.  James  Basford  (alias  Beresford) ;  patron,  Thomas  Bradshaw.    On  the  death 

of  W.  T. 

(1535).  Richard  Robynson.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 
1544.  James  Powker ;  patron,  the  King.    On  the  death  of  B.  R. 

One  branch  of  the  family  of  Bradshaw,  of  Bradshaw,  married 
the  heiress  of  Foucher  in  the  15th  century,  and  thus  became 
possessed  of  the  family  estate  at  Osmaston,  as  well  as  at  Wiudley 
and  Charnpeyne  Park,  in  Duffield  parish.]  This  accounts  for  the 
presentation  by  Thomas  Bradshaw  to  Osmaston  chantry  in  1500. 
The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  clear  annual 
value  of  the  chantry  house  and  glebe,  together  with  the  Easter 
offerings  and  tithes  of  lambs,  wool,  flax,  hemp,  pigs,  and  geese,  at 
£3  Os.  8d. 

The  following  is  from  the  Chantry  Eoll,  1  Edward  VI. : — 

"  Chapelry  of  OSMASTON  founded  by  Rob.  Folger  for  a  pryste  to  say  Masse  v 
dayes  in  the  weke  at  the  alter  of  our  Blessed  Ladye  Ixs.  viijd.  clerc  xxxixs.  vijs. 
rents  resolute  to  the  duchye  of  Laucastre.  The  Incumbent  Jamys  Parker  taketh 
upp  the  small  tythes  wch  belongethe  to  the  Vicar  of  St.  Peter's.  It  is  distaunte 
from  the  parisshe  churche  j  myle  &  a  halfe.  In  it  is  mynistred  all  Sacraments 
and  Sacramentalls ;  there  ben  iiijxx  houselynge  people  belougynge  to  the  hamlette. 
The  ornaments  they  borowe  of  other  towns." 

*  The  dedication  of  this  church  or  chapel  has  usually  been  stated  as  All  Saints ; 
but  there  is  no  doubt  whatever,  from  various  entries  in  the  Lichfield  Registers,  that 
the  true  dedication  is  S.  James.  See  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  xiii.,  f.  219,  etc.,  etc. 

f  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  v.,  ff.  58b,  59  ;  and  vol.  iii.,  f.  144a. 

I  Inq.  post  Mort.,  30  Edw.  III.,  pt.  2,  No.  24. 

§  Rot.  Orig.,  30  Edw.  III.,  memb.  28. 

||  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  222. 


166  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

Oil  the  dissolution  of  the  chantries,  the  crown  sold  the  endow- 
ments of  this  chantry  to  Edward  Pease  and  James  Wilson,  who 
also  obtained,  as  we  have  already  seen,  numerous  similar  grants 
throughout  the  country.* 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners  (6  Edward  VI.)  thus  reported 
of  the  goods  of  this  chapel : — 

"  Osmaston  juxta  Derby.     Oct.  10.     Jas.  Poker  curat. 

ij  belles  in  the  steple — ij  handbelles — j  sacryieg  bell — j  chalice  of  sylver  with  a 
patten— iij  vestiments  of  blew  wolsted,  j  of  yelow  sylke  &  j  of  wyte  twylle — 
coope  of  dune  sylke — j  albe  with  a  amysse — j  surples— iij  aulter  clothes — iij 
towells. " 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners  of   1650  say  : — 

"  Osmastone  is  a  chappell  and  member  of  Peters  the  vicarall  Tythes  worth  six 
pounds  thirteene  shillings  and  fourepence  per  annum,  the  curate  hath  received 
the  profitts  and  served  the  cure.  Mr.  Potter  scandalous." 

The  cure  has  been  augmented  both  from  Queen  Anne's  Bounty 
and  by  the  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners,  and  is  now  an  independent 
vicarage,  in  the  gift  of  Sir  Eobert  Wilmot-Horton. 

The  little  church  of  S.  James,  now  (1878)  undergoing  a  judicious 
restoration,  is  a  picturesque  building,  in  a  well-planted  and  carefully- 
kept  graveyard.  "At  this  Osmaston,  near  Derby,  we  will  turn  and 
linger  awhile,  glad  that  the  gradual  out- stretching  of  the  town  still 
leaves  the  domain  so  beautiful ;  and  we  will  seek  its  little  church 
and  bowery  churchyard — one  of  the  most  attractive  yet  retired  of 
all  the  sacred  nooks  we  know.  What  a  fitting  shade  is  formed  by 
these  firs  and  yews !  What  an  antiquated  little  temple,  smothered 
in  verdure,  with  its  tiny  bell-turret  just  peeping  out ! "  f-  The 
restoration  will,  happily,  not  deprive  it  of  its  picturesque  and 
interesting  character,  as  it  only  includes  the  removal  of  the 
unsightly  fittings,  the  opening- out  of  the  roof,  and  the  substitution 
of  a  comely  bell-turret  on  the  west  gable  for  a  comparatively 
modern  wooden  box.  It  consists  only  of  a  nave  and  chancel ;  Mr. 
Kawlins,  who  was  here  in  1825,  giving  the  dimensions  of  the 
former  at  30  ft.  by  19  ft.  10  in.,  and  of  the  latter  at  20  ft.  6  in. 
by  13  ft.  4  in.  But  it  has  at  one  time  had  a  small  south  aisle, 
separated  from  the  nave  by  two  pointed  arches,  as  can  be  seen 
from  the  outer  wall.  The  restoration  will  leave  these  arches  filled 
up  as  they  now  are,  but  will  show  the  centre  column  supporting 
the  arches  in  the  inner  waU.  The  date  of  this  work  we  should 
naturally  assign  to  about  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century ;  so 

*  Particulars  for  Grants,  3  Edw.  VI. 

+  Spencer  Hall's  Days  in  Derbyshire,  p.  244.  Plate  XXII.,  vol.  ii.  of  Sketches  of 
the  Facsimile  Society,  is  a  good  drawing  of  the  unrestored  church. 


OSMASTON.  167 

that  we  liave  little  or  no  doubt  that  this  aisle  was  built  by  Robert 
Fulcher  to  provide  the  side  altar  of  Our  Lady,  about  the  time  of 
his  founding  the  chantry.  The  present  south  doorway  is  evidently 
the  old  doorway  of  the  south  wall,  and  was  set  back  to  its  present 
position  when  the  aisle  was  taken  down. 

The  fabric  seems  to  have  been  restored  or  rebuilt  throughout  in 
the  first  half  of  the  fourteenth  century.  The  wall-plate  and  but- 
tress at  the  north-east  angle  of  -the  chancel  are  of  Decorated 
character.  Some  of  the  timbers  of  the  old  roof,  said  to  be  of 
chestnut  wood,  are  of  the  same  period.  The  three-light  east 
window  of  the  chancel  is  of  late  Perpendicular  character.  The 
other  windows  are  of  debased  design.  Some  time  in  last  century, 
a  recess  was  thrown  out  for  a  manorial  pew,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  chancel,  and  the  north  wall  of  the  nave  seems  to  have 
been  rebuilt  about  the  same  time. 

Notwithstanding  the  early  days  at  which  this  chapel  had  rights 
of  sepulture,  there  are  no  old  monuments  now  extant.  Against  the 
north  wah1  of  the  chancel  is  a  monument  thus  inscribed  : — 

"  Sacrum  Memoriae  Nicholai  Wilmot  Milit :  Servientis  ad  legem  &  Dorotheas 
ux  :  ejus  fil.  Hen  Harpur  Barronet  :  prole  inter  eos  habueruut  numerosa 
reliquerunt  tantu  Roberta -nupt :  Eliz  :  fil :  et  cohaared :  Ed:  Eardley  deJEardley 
Armig:  Nicholau  1°  nupt^  Eliz:  Chaloiier  denuo_Eliz :  Revel  Dorothea  nupt : 
Fran  :  Revel  arm  Barbara  Will  :  Bainbrigg  armig :  et  Eliz  :  Tho  :  Charnell 
arinig :  obierunt  viz  :  p'dict :  Nicholaus  28°  Decemb  :  1682  aetatis  suse  72  Dorothea 
22°  Jan :  1682  aetat.  suss  65." 

Sir  Nicholas  Wilrnot,  Knt.,  of  Osmaston,  serjeant-at-law,  was  the 
second  son  of  Robert  Wilmot,  of  Chaddesden,  by  the  heiress  of 
Shrigley.  There  are  also  monuments  to  Sir  Robert  Wilmot,  of 
Osmaston,  the  first  baronet,  who  died  in  1772;  Sir  Robert  Wilmot, 
second  baronet,  1834  ;  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  first  baronet, 
1852  ;  Mary  Ann,  relict  of  the  second  baronet,  1862  ;  and  Charles 
Foley  Wilmot,  1852. 

Against  the  west  wall  is  a  stone  to  Rev.  Thomas  Shipton,  fifty 
years  minister  of  Osmaston,  who  died  in  1774,  aged  83.  There  is 
also  a  memorial  to  the  Rev.  S.  Pearson,  minister  of  Osmaston, 
who  died  in  1811,  aged  65  ;  but  his  remains  are  at  Croxall,  by  his 
brother,  Rev.  J.  B.  Pearson,  vicar  of  that  parish. 

A  most  interesting  relic  of  the  chapel  originally  built  here  by 
the  Dunnes  has  disappeared  during  the  present  generation.  In 
Lysons'  MS.  notes,  taken  about  1815,  is  given  a  sketch  of  the 
Osmaston  font,  which  he  describes  as  being  very  large,  circular,  and 
much  defaced.  It  was  ornamented  with  Norman  arcade  work,  not 
interlaced,  and  above  this  was  a  kind  of  continuous  scroll  moulding. 


168  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

It  must  have  been  of  early  Norman  date,  not  later  than  the  reign 
of  Henry  I.  The  present  font  is  of  plain  octagon  design. 

The  restoration  now  (October,  1878)  in  progress  has  brought  to 
light  a  recess  on  the  north  side  of  the  chaucel,  3  ft.  4  in.  long 
by  2  ft.  high,  built  up  with  brick.  It  is  only  eight  inches  deep, 
which  seems  rather  too  shallow  for  an  almery.  Bound  it  were 
evident  traces  of  wall-painting  in  red,  but  too  faint  to  decipher. 
The  workmen  have  also  found  a  stone  ornamented  with  the 
Norman  chevron  moulding.  On  the  north  side  of  the  east  window 
is  a  projecting  stone  corbel. 

The  single  bell,  which  has  a  diameter  of  27£  inches,  is  thus 
inscribed : — "  Sir  Robt  Wilmot  Bart  Patron  :  Pearson  Minister, 
W.  Parker  Churchwarden.  T.  Hears  &  Son  of  London  fecit, 
1808." 

The  registers  only  begin   in  1780. 


jjHERE  can  be  no  doubt  that  S.  Werburgk's  was  one  of 
the  six  Derby  churches  mentioned  by  the  Domesday  Book 
as  extant  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  and  again 
in  the  reign  of  William  I. ;  but  whether  to  identify  it  with  the 
church  owned  at  the  former  period  by  Brun,  and  afterwards  by 
Norman  de  Lincolnia — or  with  the  one  by  Coin,  and  afterwards 
by  his  son  Edric,  does  not  now  seem  possible.  The  church  of 
S.  Werburgh  was  one  of  those  given  by  Robert  de  Ferrers  to  the 
newly-founded  abbey  of  Darley,  in  the  reign  of  Stephen ;  *  but 
Lysons,  Glover,  etc.,  are  wrong  in  supposing  that  it  remained 
appropriated  to  that  abbey.  The  abbot  of  Darley,  soon  after  the 
foundation  of  his  own  house,  obtained  both  episcopal  and  regal 
sanction  (temp.  Henry  II.)  to  found  a  small  priory  of  Benedictine 
nuns  on  the  King's  Mead,  at  Derby.  This  priory,  dedicated  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  usually  known  as  the  monastery  of  S.  Mary 
de  Pratis  (of  which  we  shall  have  more  to  say  on  another  occa- 
sion), was  transferred  to  the  church  of  S.  Werburgh  during  the 
episcopate  of  Richard  Peche,  1161-1183.  The  abbot  of  Darley 
exercised  special  and  unusual  rights  over  the  priory  of  nuns, 
which  led  to  various  disputes,  until  at  last  Bishop  Roger  Weseharn 
(who  held  the  see  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield  from  1245  to  1258) 
declared  the  complete  independence  of  the  priory,  and ,  sanctioned 
the  prioress,  Sybil,  in  the  free  holding  of  various  property,  including 
the  church  of  S.  Werburgh.t  We  do  not  know  the  precise  time 
at  which  a  vicarage  was  ordained  and  the  tithes  were  appropriated  ; 
but  it  must  have  been  some  time  prior  to  1 278,  for  in  that  year 
mention  is  made  of  Walter  de  Marketon,  vicar  of  S.  Werburgh's.J 

*  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.,  p.  61. 

t  Darley  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  f.  78. 

I  Ibid,  f.  52. 


172  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

In  November,  1322,  the  church  of  S.  Werburgh  was  polluted  by 
a  sanguinary  quarrel.  Of  its  details  we  know  nothing ;  but  Hugh 
Meynell,  of  Langley,  was  adjudged  by  the  Bishop  to  have  shed 
violently  blood  within  the  church,  and  the  Archdeacon  of  Derby 
was  enjoined  to  first  try  suasion  to  bring  him  to  repentance.* 
The  archdeacon's  suasion  probably  sufficed,  as  we  find  no  further 
entry  in  the  episcopal  Act  Book.  This  bringing  to  repentance 
would,  most  likely,  involve  the  payment  of  a  good  round  sum,  as 
the  church,  according  to  canon  law,  would  require  "reconciliation," 
and  the  offender  would,  naturally,  be  mulcted  for  the  fees  of  this 
episcopal  function,  and  this  in  addition  to  personal  chastisement,  t 

The  prioress  of  the  nuns  of  King's  Mead  regularly  presented  to 
the  vicarage  of  S.  Werburgh  when  vacancies  occurred.  The  Vnl<>r 
Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  clear  annual  value  of  the 
vicarage  at  £o  12s.  8d.  Its  emoluments  were  derived  from  a 
house,  Easter  dues,  offerings  at  four  fixed  dates  termed  "  offryng 
days,"  and  tithes  of  lambs,  wool,  hay,  etc.  The  rectory  at  the 
same  time  was  only  valued  at  £2  6s.  8d.  per  annum ;  but  the 
priory  also  received  12s.  rent  from  Robert  Thacker,  the  vicar,  for 
a  messuage  and  garden  that  he  held  of  them.  On  the  dissolution 
of  the  monasteries,  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage  reverted  to  the 
crown,  and  it  remained  in  the  gift  of  the  Lord  Chancellor  until 
1873,  when  it  was,  by  exchange,  vested  in  the  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese. 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners  of  1650  say  of  this  benefice: — 

"  Item  Warburge  is  a  viccaridge  really  worth  eighteeiie  pounds  per  annum  an 
augmentason  of  thirtye  ponnds  per  annum  forth  of  the  Impropriate  Rectory  of 
Burnastone  sequestred  from  Sir  Edward  Moseley  and  twenty  pounds  per  annum 
allso  forth  of  the  impropriate  Rectory  of  Glossop  sequestred  from  Alathea 
Countess  of  Arundell  for  her  recusancye.  Mr.  Thomas  Bakewell  viccar  an  able 
and  pious  man." 

This  is  further  explained  by  the  following  minute  of  the  "Com- 
mittee for  Plundered  Ministers  :" — 


*  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  iii  ,  f.  lib. 

t  See  the  subsequent  account  of  Hope  church  in  the  addenda  to  this  volume ;  also 
Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  580.  A  curious  instance  occurs  in  the  Durham 
Registers  of  about  this  date,  1315.  showing  the  grave  light  in  which  any  blood  shed 
about  a  church,  even  when  accidental,  was  regarded.  The  Scots  making  a  raid  over 
the  border  came  to  the  village  of  Houghton,  when  one  John  Sayer,  to  escape  them, 
fled  to  the  church  and  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  tower.  Incautiously  looking  over  the 
battlements,  he  fell  to  the  ground.  He  was  instantly  killed,  and  the  blood  escaping 
from  his  nostrils,  flowed  under  the  west  door  into  the  church.  The  rector  immediately 
suspended  all  divine  offices  in  the  church  and  sent  information  to  the  Bishop.  Nor 
was  service  allowed  to  be  resumed  until  the  Bishop  had  sent  his  Commissary  to  hold 
an  inquisition,  when  it  was  definitely  proved  that  the  presence  of  blood  in  the  church 
was  purely  accidental  and  not  occasioned  by  any  violence. — Registrum  Palatinum 
Dunelmense,  Ricardo  de  Kellawe  Episcopo,  f.  145. 


s.  WKRBURGH'S.  173 

"  Jane  3,  1646. 

By  vertue  of  an  order  of  both  houses  of  parliament  of  the  second  of  May  last, 
It  is  ordered  that  the  yearly  sum  of  £30  out  of  the  tythes  of  the  impropriate 
rectory  of  Etwall.  in  the  county  of  Derby,  which  arise  and  grow  within  the 
towns  of  Barracoate  and  Burnaston,  and  the  premises  and  limits  thereof, 
be  paid  and  allowed  to  and  for  more  ease  of  the  maintenance  of  the  minister 
of  the  church  of  St.  Warburgh,  in  the  town  of  Derby,  the  present  maintenance 
being  but  twenty  marks  per  annum,  and  the  sequestrators  of  the  premises  are 
required  to  pay  the  same  accordingly  at  such  times  and  seasons  of  the  year  as 
the  same  are  payable." 

The  following  list  of  vicars  is  chiefly  taken  from  the  Lichfield 
registers  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office  : — 

1278.  Walter  de  Marketon.    Darley  Chartulaiy. 

1312.  Walter  de  London. 

1318.  Thomas  de  Stokes.     On  the  death  of  W.  de  L. 

1327.  John  de  Derby. 

1328.  Simon  de  Wasdutton.      On  the  resignation  of  J.   de  D.      Collated  by 'the 
Bishop. 

1329.  John    Dormer.*      On    the    resignation    of    Simon    de    Northbrough,  alias 
Wasdutton. 

1333.  Richard  de  Barwe.     On  the  resignation  of  J.   D. 

1338.  Robert  de  Haneyate.     On  the  resignation  E.  de  B. 

1339.  John  de  Berdeleye.t 

1349.  Henry  de  Longeley.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  de  B. 
1369.  John  de  Holand.     On  the  death  of  H.  de  L. 
1396.  John  Flamstede. 

.  Ralph  Stanley. 

1423.  William  Duffield.     On  the  resignation  of  R.   S. 
1425.  Nicholas  Barton.    On  the  resignation  of  W.  D. 

.  William  Parkeston. 

1438.  John  Cowper.    On  the  resignation  of  W.  P. 

1439.  William  Smyth.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  C. 

1440.  Thomas  Lancaster.    On  the  resignation  of  W.   S. 
1443.  John  Wythale.     On  the  resignation  of  T.  L. 

*  On  May  25th,  1332,  this  vicar  of  S.  Werburgh's  received  the  Bishop's  commission 
to  act  as  a  general  confessor  or  "penancer,"  as  he  was  then  termed,  "pro  officio 
Penitentiaries."  Other  similar  commissions  were  at  the  same  time  granted  to  two 
priests  in  the  archdeaconry  of  Salop  and  to  one  in  the  archdeaconry  of  Cheshire. 
All  the  clergy  and  laity  of  Derbyshire  might  confess  to  the  penitentiary  "  exceptis 
casis  ex  judiciarii  putestate  descendentibus  necnon  corruptoribus  monialium  et 
corruptis  eisdem  illis  etiam  qui  perjurium  in  assisis  et  in  inquiaitionibus  juratis 
in  foro  seculare  incurrerint."  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  iii.,  f.  30b.  These  graver 
cases  would  be  reserved  for  the  Bishop  himself,  or  even  for  the  Pope.  It  seems 
that  this  appointment  of  special  penitentiaries  did  not  interfere  with  confessions 
of  private  sins  to  any  licenced  priest,  and  the  priests  of  almost  every  important 
parish  were  licenced  for  that  purpose  ;  but  it  related  more  especially  to  the  imposing 
of  penances,  after  a  regulated  canonical  system,  for  public  or  more  serious  offences. 
In  short  these  official  penancers,  one  or  two  in  each  archdeaconry,  acted  as  epis- 
copal commissaries  and  gave  absolution  and  imposed  penances  in  those  cases  reserved 
by  the  canon  for  the  Bishop.  It  would  also  appear  as  if  this  appointment  had  some 
special  reference  to  three  sets  of  English  canons  ( Archbishop  Langton's,  1222,  Otho  the 
Legate's,  1237,  and  Archbishop  Reynolds',  13'2*2),  empowering  Bishops  to  appoint  con- 
fessors for  the  diocesan  clergy,  in  case  they  were  reluctant  to  resort  to  the  rural  deans, 
who  were  the  usual  confessors  of  the  priests. 

f  This  institution  is  recorded  in  the  Act  Book  of  Bishop  Roger  Northbury  (vol.  iii., 
f.  59b),  and  not  in  the  regular  book  of  institutions.  It  is  followed  by  a  challenge  to 
a  claimant  of  the  vicarage  to  appear  before  the  Bishop  and  support  his  claim.  Heuce 
probably  the  entry  in  the  Act  Book.  The  rival  claimant  did  not  put  in  an  appearance, 
so  the  institution  of  John  de  Berdeleye  held  good. 


174  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1447.  Thomas  Monyasshe.    On  the  resignation  of  J.  W. 
.  John  Stanford. 

1517.  John  Hodgekynson.    On  the  death  of  J.  S. 

1518    Ralph  Edmundson.    On  the  death  of  J.  H. 

1530.  Robert  Thacker.     On  the  resignation  of  B.  B. 

1544.  Thomas  Parker;  patron,  the  King.     On  the  resignation  of  R.  T. 

1608.  Richard  Johnson.  "  Richard  Johnson,  late  vicar  of  St  Warbnrge  was 
buried  the  20  day  of  Julie  1629  who  had  beene  vicar  21  yeares  or  there- 
abouts."— Parish  Registers. 

1629.  Daniel  Eyre;  patron,  the  King. 

(1650).  Thomas  Bakewell.    Parl.  Com.  Report. 

1657.  Samuel  Beresford.*  "  Mr.  Samuel  Beiesforde  came  to  be  minister  of  this 
parish  up  the  21  of  May  1657." — Parish  Registers. 

1662.  Nathaniel  Macham;  patron,  the  King. 

1689.  James  Walker. 

1710.  John  Bradbury.    On  the  death  of  J.  W. 

1722.  William  Lockett.t 

1751.  John  Seale.    On  the  death  of  W.  L. 

1774.  Charles  Hope.    On  the  death  of  J.  S. 

1799.  Frederick  Hotham. 

1809.  Edward  Unwin. 

1847.  W.  F.  Wilkinson.    On  the  death   of  E;  U. 

1871.  Thomas  Berry.    On  the  resignation  of  W.  F.  W. 

A  chantry  was  founded  at  the  altar  of  Our  Lady  in  this  church, 
in  the  year  1359,  by  Sir  John  Chandos  and  others.  It  was 
endowed  with  eight  acres  of  land,  tenements,  etc.,  situate  in 
Derby.:}:  We  find  from  the  Valor  Ecclesiastic  us  that  the  chaplain 
of  this  chantry  received  a  yearly  pension  of  3s.  from  the  abbey  of 
Darley.  The  following  is  the  account  given  in  the  Chantry  Boll: — 

"  S.  WAKBUBGHE.— The  Chauntrye  of  our  Ladye  founded  by  Ser  Jo.  Shaunders 
knyght,  Peter  Prentys  Henrye  Eggyngton  and  Otho  Ashe  of  Derby  by  special 
lycence  of  K.  Edward  III.  dat.  A°  regn.  xxxij  for  j  pryste  to  synge  mass  daylye 
at  the  alter  of  our  Ladye  and  to  praye  for  the  Kynge  and  all  cristian  sowles 
iiijli.  Clerc  cxiijs.  iiijd.  Ser  Robert  Bywater  Chauntry  Pryste.  To  the  parisshe 
belongethe  cclx  howselynge  people." 

On  the  dissolution  of  the  chantries  this  property  went  to  the 
crown  ;  but  Queen  Mary  granted  the  various  lands,  cottages,  etc., 
that  had  pertained  to  the  chantry  of  S.  Mary,  within  the  church 

*  "  He  was  a  good  Scholar,  a  fine  Preacher,  a  curious  Orator,  and  a  very  Holy 
Man.  He  was  very  warm  against  the  Sectaries,  but  was  not  at  a  great  distance  from 
the  Church.  After  his  Ejectment,  he  went  frequently  (if  not  constantly)  to  Church 
during  his  stay  in  Derby;  which  was  till  the  Five  Mile  Act  took  Place;  and  persuaded 
his  Friends  to  do  so  too.  He  was  against  both  Superstition  and  Separation.  The 
former  made  him  a  Nonconformist;  and  the  latter  caus'd  him  to  attend  on  the  publick 
Assemblies." — Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  166. 

t  Hutton  records  of  "  the  wiser  Lockett,"  that  in  the  exciting  times  of  1715  when 
Derby  and  especially  the  clergy  were  hotly  Jacobean ;  when  Sturges  of  All  Saints' 
openly  prayed  for  King  James;  when  Harris  of  S.  Peter's  had  to  be  called  to  order 
by  the  magistrates ;  and  when  Cantrel  of  S.  Alkmund's  drank  James'  health  upon 
his  knees,  that  "  the  wiser  Lockett  rather  chose  to  amuse  himself  with  mowing 
his  grass-plat,  than  meddling  with  politics." — History  of  Derby,  p.  245. 

{  Inq.  post.  Mort.,  32  Edw.  III.,  pt.  2.,  No.  34.  This  is  really  an  Inquisitio  ad 
quod  damnum,  and  is  wrongly  classified. 


s.  WERBURGH'S.  175 

of  S.  Werburgh,  to  the  Bailiffs  and  Burgesses  of  Derby.  Robert 
Bywater,  the  ex-chantry  priest,  was  also  awarded  a  pension  of  £6 
in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary.* 

There  are  only  ten  dedications  in  honour  of  S.  Werburgh,  and 
the  churches  are  all  supposed  to  be  of  Saxon  foundation,  as  the 
Normans  did  all  they  could  to  discredit  any  special  veneration  of 
the  saints  of  the  conquered  race.  It  is  interesting  to  find  that 
three  of  these  dedications — Derby,  Blackwell,  and  Spondon — pertain 
to  this  county.  The  remainder  are  at  Kingsley  (Stafford),  Hoo 
(Kent),  the  Cathedral  at  Chester,  Warburton  (Cheshire),  Bristol, 
Wenbury  (Devon),  and  Treveglos  (Cornwall).  S.  Werburgh  was 
the  daughter  of  Wulphere,  king  of  Mercia,  and  when  young, 
consecrated  herself  to  a  holy  life  in  the  monastery  of  Ely.  On 
Ethelred,  brother  to  Wulphere,  succeeding  to  the  throne  in  675, 
he  recalled  his  niece  from  Ely,  and  entrusted  her  with  the  care  of 
forming  nunneries  in  Mercia.  Within  a  short  time,  assisted  by  his 
munificence,  she  founded  religious  houses  at  Trentharn  and  Han- 
bury,  in  Staffordshire,  and  at  Wedon,  in  Northamptonshire,  of  all 
of  which  she  was  superioress  at  the  same  time.  She  died  at 
Trentham,  February  3rd,  699,  but  was  buried  at  Hanbury.  Some 
two  centuries  afterwards,  when  the  Danes  were  pillaging  Eepton, 
her  relics  were  removed  from  Hanbury,  only  a  few  miles  distant, 
and  translated  to  Chester,  of  which  city  she  came  to  be  considered 
the  patroness,  as  S.  Alkmund  was  of  Derby. 

Of  the  old  fabric  of  this  church  we  know  little  or  nothing.  It 
stood  close  to  the  west  side  of  Markeaton  brook.  On  January 
20th,  1601,  a  violent  gale  from  the  west  caused  the  overthrow  of 
the  steeple,  which  in  its  fall  did  great  damage  to  the  chancel  and 
part  of  the  body  of  the  church.  .  The  word  "  steeple "  was  used 
for  either  a  spire,  or  a  tower  surmounted  by  a  spire  ;  and  tradition 
has  it  that  the  tower  of  S.  Werburgh's  was  crowned  with  a  tall  and 
graceful  spire.  This  tradition  is  confirmed  by  the  use  of  the  word 
"pyramis"  in  the  Latin  note  on  this  subject  in  the  parish  registers 
of  S.  Alkmund's.  The  entry  is  as  follows : — 

"  Vigessimo  die  hujus  mensis  Januarii  devicta  erat  Pyramis  S*1  Warburg! 
Darb  hora  secuda  a  meridio,  vi  scilicet  cujusdam  procellse  a  zephiro  ortse,  quo 
casu  cecidit  Cancellu  et  pars  Ecclesiss  ad  maguu  parochise  detrimental,  nuilu 
tamen  interfecit  homine  una  ne  bestia  quidem.  Oh  profuuditas  divitiarum  et 
sapientiae  et  scientise  dei,  cujus  juditia  nemo  scrutator,  et  cujus  semitas  fuit 
super  vestigabiles.  Bom.  11.  33." 

*  Add.  MSS.,  8,102,  f.  49b. 


176  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

Hutton,  and  all  subsequent  writers  on  Derby,  have  attributed 
the  fall  of  the  steeple  to  a  flood  that  undermined  the  foundations ; 
but  it  is  impossible  that  a  contemporary  account,  entered  in  a 
register,  could  be  anything  but  accurate.  It  is,  however,  very 
possible  that  the  action  of  the  water  may  have  rendered  the  tower 
more  susceptible  to  the  effects  of  the  gale.  To  gain  firmer  ground, 
it  was  decided  to  rebuild  the  tower  on  the  south-east  side  of  the 
church,  where  it  now  stands.  This  work  was  not  finished  till  1608. 
It  is  obvious  that  the  lower  stage  of  the  tower  consists  of  the  old 
materials,  which  must  have  been  carefully  re-erected.  This  part  of 
the  tower  is  of  Perpendicular  style,  and  was  probably  first  built  in 
the  second  half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  The  upper  stage,  with  its 
double  bell- chamber  windows,  is  of  the  poor  character  that  might 
be  expected  of  the  date  when  it  was  built. 

Owing  to  its  nearness  to  that  unmanageable  stream,  the  Mark- 
eaton  brook,  the  church  of  S.  Werburgh  seems  to  have  constantly 
suffered  from  floods.  The  following  is  an  entry  from  an  old  book 
of  Churchwardens'  Accounts  : — 

"  July  the  19th  1673,  being  Sabbath  day  at  night,  there  was  a  great  Floud. 
The  water  was  two  Foot  high  in  the  middle  ally  it  weare  masured  so  that 
it  came  into  Cheasts  and  wett  all  the  writinge.  Such  a  Flood  was  not  known  in 
our  agge  before.  Isaac  Jackson  and  William  Jerom,  Churchwardens."* 

On  November  5th,  1698,  another  great  flood  occurred,  and  the 
brook  rising  "ran  into  the  churchyard,  and  getting  into  the  ground, 
hollow  and  loose  by  the  graves,  occasioned  some  of  the  pillars  that 
supported  the  body  of  the  Church  to  give  way."  t  The  consequence 
was  that  the  whole  body  of  the  church  and  the  chancel  collapsed. 
The  day  of  the  catastrophe  caused  a  paltry  rhymester,  one  John 
Pegge,  to  produce  this  couplet : — 

"Fifth  of  November,  Gun -powder  Plot, 
The  Church  is  fall'n ;  and  why  not  ?  " 

"  This  wicked  distich,"  says  Hutton,  "  without  measure,  harmony, 
or  thought  (for  John  was  never  able  to  think),  which  ought  to 
have  been  treated  with  a  smile,  raised  the  clamour  of  the  Estab- 
lishment against  the  Dissenters,  for  John  was  one  of  that  body."J 
On  November  25th,  James  Walker,  the  vicar,  wrote  a  letter  to 

*  Quoted  in  the  Reliquary,  vol.  i.,  p.  552,  where  it  is  stated  that  this  book  is  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Llewellyim  Jewitfc.  It  is  much  to  be  hoped  that  it  will  be  restored 
to  the  parish  chest,  to  which  it  undoubtedly  belongs.  For  a  further  account  of  the 
flood  of  1(J73  and  the  damage  it  did  to  the  town,  see  Simpson's  Derby,  p.  111. 

t  Wolley's  MS.  History  of  Derby,  circa  1710,  in  the  College  of  Arms. 

J  Button's  History  of  Derby,  p.  142. 


s.  WEKBURGH'S.  177 

Bishop  Lloyd,  stating  that  a  flood  had  "  demolished ''  the 
church  on  the  night  of  November  4th  and  5th,  doing  damage 
to  the  amount  of  £1,000,  and  praying  his  lordship's  direc- 
tions how  to  make  collections  for  the  rebuilding.  The  Bishop 
replied,  advocating  voluntary  contributions,  and  giving  £20  as 
his  donation.  * 

The  body  of  the  church  was  rebuilt  "after  the  Tuscan  order," 
with  a  dome  in  the  centre,  and  a  chancel  was  added,  after  the 
same  style.  A  stone  in  the  south  wall  in  the  gallery,  states 
that  the  rebuilding  was  accomplished  in  1699.  An  elaborate 
tasteless  reredos  of  plaster  was  put  in  the  chancel  in  1708,  the 
chief  ornament  of  which  is  Queen  Anne's  arms. 

In  1730,  Mr.  George  Eichardson  built  a  west  gallery  to  accom- 
modate the  organ.  In  1778,  a  north  gallery  was  erected;  and  in 
1788,  the  population  of  the  parish  had  so  increased,  that  it  was 
decided  to  extend  continuous  galleries  round  the  three  sides  of  the 
nave,  the  deficiency  of  light  expected  to  be  thereby  caused  being 
supplied  by  glazing  the  dome.t 

Considerable  damage  was  once  more  done  to  this  church  by  a 
flood,  on  December  9th,  1740,  "when  ye  water  made  so  great  a 
Breach  in  the  pavement  throughout  ye  Church  y*  it  had  to  be 
newpaved."  J 

Again,  the  great  flood  of  April  1st,  1842  (when  the  water  was 
six  feet  deep  in  some  of  the  principal  streets),  undermined  the 
floor  and  filled  the  vaults  of  S.  Werburgh's,  necessitating  the 
opening  of  many  of  them,  and  the  reflooring  of  a  large  portion 
of  the  nave. 

When  Elias  Ashmole  visited  this  church,  August  8th,  1662,  he 
noted  "  a  monum*  set  in  the  North  wall  about  the  Midle  of  the 
ChauceU,"  thus  inscribed  : — 

"  Here  (in  the  middle  of  the  Quire)  lyeth  buried  the  body  of  Henry  Milward 
late  of  Syndfern  Geii :  who  depted  this  Lyfe  the  25th  day  of  Jan1?  1615,  the  79 
yeare  of  his  age,  he  had  by  his  wife  Elizabth  daughter  of  Georg*  Hygham  of 
Adlyngton  in  Cheshire  Gen :  ten  Children  5  sons  and  6  daughters,  &  having 
lived  lovingly  together  52  yeares  she  deceased  the  27tb  of  Sep1*1  1610  &  lyeth 
buried  in  the  Churche  of  Barrow  upon  Trent,  to  whose  memory  in  filial  duty 
John  Milward  their  youngest  child  hath  erected  this  Monument 


*  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  v. 

t  This  information  is  from  a  pamphlet  of  nearly  one  hundred  pages,  written  by  Mr. 
Henry  Mozley,  one  of  the  churchwardens  in  1830-1,  when  there  was  considerable  dis- 
pute about  the  re-allotting  of  pews. 

J  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  v. 
13 


178  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

Though  never  rich,  richly  did  Mflward  live, 
With  lib'ral  haiid  to  lend,  to  spend,  to  give, 
Whose  need  requir'd  according  to  his  portion 

*  *  * 

To  God  devout  and  to  the  Church  inclin'd, 
Hurtful  to  none,  helpful  to  all,  and  kind, 
Especially  to  neighbors,  friends,  and  kindred 
And  father-like  his  children  dear  he  tender'd. 
Skrat,  good  housekeeper,  constant  to  his  word, 
Milde  peacemaker,  so  blessed  of  the  Lord, 
A  child  of  God,  he  reigns  in  heaven  for  ever, 
From  labour  free,  from  care,  from  fear,  from  fever."* 

On  the  slab  were  the  arms  of  Milward  (Erm.,  on  a  fesse,  >/n., 
three  plates)  impaling  Higham  (chequy,  arg.  and  az.,  on  a  chief, 
git,.,  a  lion  passant  guartlant,  or.)  Henry  Milward,  of  Sinfin,  was 
the  third  son  of  William  Milward,  of  Eaton  Dovedale,  by  Catharine, 
daughter  of  John  Fleetwood,  of  Colwich.  The  above  inscription  is 
given,  from  Bassano's  notes  (circa  1710),  both  in  Simpson  and 
Glover,  as  if  then  extant ;  but  the  MS.  notes  of  Mr.  Rawlins, 
taken  in  1826,  mentions  that  it  was  not  then  to  be  found.  It 
seems  to  have  been  placed  on  the  floor  of  the  chancel  when  it  was 
rebuilt,  and  it  most  likely  disappeared  after  the  repaviug  of  the 
church  in  1740. 

A  handsome  mural  monument  against  the  south  chancel  wall, 
which  used  to  be  against  the  north  wall  in  the  days  both  of 
Ashmole  and  of  Bassano,  bears  the  following  inscription  : — 

"  Memoriae  sacrum  Gervasii  Sleigh  de  Ash,  Arm.  qui  duxit  Elizabethan!  filiam 
Johannis  Chomley  Gen.  ex  qua  suscepit  Samuelem,  Gervasium,  &  Hugonem ;  post 
quam    autem    cum    ilia    aunos    xxxv   ab    inito    conjugio   pie    &   feliciter    vixisset, 
placide  in  Dom  :  obdorruivit  vij  Junii  Anno  Salutis  MDCXXVI.    ^tatis  suae  LXVI. 
Gervasius  Sleigh    ) 
Is  re  gavisus  lege  ' 
Qui  qua  sunt  legis,  prastat,  procurat,  &  urget 

Is  re  gavisus  lege  proculdubio  est. 
Talis  erat  noster  Gervasius,  integer  ipse, 

Justiciss  locuples,  ac  elemosynas, 
Talis  erat  noster,  procnrans  omnia  justa. 

Sive  foris  obiit  munia,  sive  Domini, 
Talis  erat,  cunctos  urgens  ad  justa  patranda, 

Sumptibus,  exemplis,  consiliis,  precibus ; 
His  tamen  hand  fisus  quies  siquis  fidere  possit, 

Exclamat  moriens ;  O  miserere  Deus. 
Qui  legis  haec,  legem  serva,  te  servet  Jesus, 
Si  re  gavisus  lege  cluere  velis." 

•Bodleian  Library,  Ashm.  MSS.,  851.  The  rhyming  part  of  the  epitaph  is  not 
given  by  Ashmole,  but  is  here  taken  from  Bassano's  notes.  See  the  epitaph  to  the 
wife  of  Henry  Milward,  supra,  p.  24  ;  for  information  respecting  this  family,  see 
Chwches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  165-6,  633;  and  vol.  iii.,  pp.  123-4. 


s.  WERBURGH'S.  179 

Above  the  inscription  is  a  quartered  coat — 1st  and  4th  Sleigh  (gu., 
a  chevron  between  three  owls,  or),  2nd  Arderne  (iju.,  three  cross 
crosslets  fitchee  and  a  chief,  or),  and  3rd  Kyley  (or,  a  fesse 
between  three  crosses  patee  fitchee,  sab.)  Below  are  the  arms  of 
Sleigh  impaling  Cholmondeley  (iju.,  in  chief  two  helmets,  arg.,  in 
base  a  garb,  or).  An  explanation  of  the  lineage  of  Sleigh, 
accounting  for  the  above  quarterings,  and  some  account  of  the 
family,  have  already  been  given  in  these  pages.*  In  addition  to 
this  mural  monument,  Ashmole  also  mentions  an  alabaster  slab, 
then  on  the  floor  in  the  centre  of  the  chancel,  thus  simply 
inscribed  : — 

"  Heere  lyeth  the  Bodies  of  Gervase  Sleigh  of  Ash  Esqr  who  depted  this  lyfe 
the  7  of  July  (?)  A°  dni  1626,  &  of  Eliz :  his  wife  depted  this  lyfe  the  20th  of 
July  A°  dni  1633." 

This  latter  slab  cannot  now  be  found. 

In  1850,  the  present  west  portico  was  added  to  the  church,  the 
entrance  having  previously  been  on  the  south  side.  At  the  same 
time,  a  north  chancel  aisle  was  added,  which  now  serves  as  an 
organ  chamber,  and  this  necessitated  the  moving  of  the  Sleigh 
monument,  mentioned  above. 

Very  considerable  improvements  were  effected  in  the  church  in 
the  year  1873-4,  when  it  was  reseated  throughout,  the  chancel 
fitted  with  quire  stalls,  and  the  organ  removed  from  the  west  end 
to  the  chancel  aisle.  The  alabaster  of  the  new  pulpit  formed  part 
of  an  illegible  monumental  slab  then  found  under  the  pavement  of 
the  north  aisle.  The  small  brass  lectern  is  well  worth  notice, 
and  is  of  unique  design.  The  actual  support  for  the  book  rests 
on  a  well-executed  pelican  vulniug  itself,  with  its  four  young  ones 
(Plate  X.),  and  on  the  base  are  the  words: — "The  gift  of  Charl68 
Beuskin  of  Derby,  1711."  The  pelican  used  to  rest  immediately 
upon  this  base,  and  formed  part  of  an  elaborate  font-cover,  sus- 
pended from  the  roof  by  a  pulley.  It  had  long  been  disused,  and 
the  present  vicar,  Eev.  T.  Berry,  conceived  the  happy  idea  of 
utilising  it  as  a  lectern,  which  was  accomplished  by  inserting  a 
tall  pillar  of  the  same  metal  between  the  bird  and  the  base.  The 
beautifully  wrought  framework  of  beaten  iron,  which  used  to 
surround  the  pelican,  now  rests  on  the  stove  in  the  north-west 
angle  of  the  church.  The  brass  chandelier  of  twelve  lights  in  the 
chancel,  and  one  of  twenty-one  lights  in  the  west  portico,  are  from 
the  same  benefactor.  On  the  latter  is  inscribed : — "  This  and  the 

*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  329-30. 


180  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

brainch  in  y"  cliansell  was  the  gift  of  Mr.  Charles  Benskyn,  of 
Derby,  1708."  Of  this  gentleman's  gifts  to  Alvaston  church,  where 
he  was  buried,  we  have  already  spoken.  Nor  did  Mr.  Benskin 
merely  con  fine  his  generosity  to  church  monuments:  he  augmented 
the  cures  of  Alvaston,  Boulton,  and  Osmaston,  and,  with  respect  to 
S.  Werburgh's,  he  provided  "  an  additional  stipend  for  reading 
prayers  in  the  week  day."*  The  reigns  of  the  first  two  Georges 
are  generally  regarded,  and  very  rightly  so,  as  including  the 
darkest  times  of  the  Church's  history  in  England  ;  but  in  Derby, 
at  all  events,  the  Church's  injunctions  as  to  daily  prayers  were 
complied  with  in  at  least  two  of  her  five  churches. 

Over  the  door  leading  to  the  tower  stairs  is  cut — "  G.  Pycrofte, 
clark,  1703."  The  tower  contains  a  ring  of  eight  bells,  thus 
inscribed : — 

L,  II.,  III.,  IV.  V.,  and  VIII.  "C.  &  G.  Hears,  Founders, 
London,  1848. 

"  Thomas  Crump.  Esqr.     Church 
Henry  Darby,  Esqr.       j  Wardens." 

VI.  "  My  roaringe  sounde  doth  warning  geve 

That  men  cannot  heare  always  lyve.     1605." 
The  bell-mark  is  that  of  Henry  Oldfield. 

VII.  "Ihs  See  Warbqro     T.G.     W.T."      Henry  Oldfield's  mark, 
surmounted  by  a  crown. 

The  earliest  register  is  a  small  parchment  volume,  in  poor  con- 
dition and  badly  kept.  It  begins  in  1588  and  ends  in  1642. 
There  is  a  leaf  missing  between  1586  and  1587.  The  second 
volume  extends  from  1652  to  1721. 

"  Memorandum  that  According  to  an  Act  of  Parliament  beringe  date  the  21  of 
August  1653  that  Thomas  Inkershel  of  Darbie  was  chosen  Register  for  the 
Parish  of  Warboro  And  approved  of  and  swore  before  mee 

J.  W.  Dalton 
Samull  Sparman 
"William  Tabror  present 

Churchwardens." 

In  the  third  volume  occurs  an  entry  which  imparts  considerable 
value  and  interest  to  its  page — viz.,  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Johnson  : — 

"  July  9,  1735.  Mar'  Samu  Johnson  of  ye  parish  S.  Marys  in  Lichfleld  and 
Elizh  Porter  of  y«  parish  of  S.  Phillip  in  Burmingham." 

*  Woolley's  MSS.  History.     There  is  no  trace  now  left  of  this  benefaction. 


jlgninfon. 


€lgginfon. 


HE  manor  of  Egginton,  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey,  was  held  by  Geoffrey  Alselin,  and  it  is  recorded 
that  it  then  possessed  a  priest  and  a  church.  The  heiress 
of  his  descendant,  Kalph  Alselin,  married  Thomas  Bardulf,  of 
Wormigay,  conveying  Egginton  and  his  other  estates  to  that 
family.  William  Bardulf  held  the  fee  of  this  manor  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  III.*  The  manor  was  held  under  the  Bardolfs  in 
moieties  by  Amalric  de  Gasci  and  William  Fitzralph.  The  latter, 
who  was  the  son  of  Ealph  Fitz-Geremund,  was  seneschal  of  Nor- 
niaudy,  and  founder  of  the  abbey  of  Dale.  Fitzralph's  moiety 
passed  to  Geoffrey  de  Musters,  who  had  married  his  daughter 
Avice.t  The  rectory  of  Egginton  was  divided  with  the  manor 
into  two  moieties ;  so  that  there  were  two  rectors  at  the  same 
time,  and  not  merely  alternate  presentations.  Early  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  III.,  the  two  medieties  of  the  rectory  were  respectively 
conveyed  to  the  newly-founded  abbey  of  Dale  by  Amalric  de  Gasci 
and  Geoffrey  de  Musters.]: 

None  of  the  tithes  of  Egginton  were  then  appropriated  to  Dale; 
but  for  upwards  of  a  hundred  years  the  abbot  continued  to  present 
to  the  rectory.  We  have  failed  to  find  out  how  it  was  that  the 
abbey  parted  with  the  presentation ;  but  it  eventually  returned  to 
the  owners  of  the  manor ;  the  last  presentation  by  the  abbot 
taking  place  in  the  year  1344.  Perhaps  it  was  the  result  of  a 
lawsuit ;  for  the  lords  of  the  manor  clearly  laid  claim  to  the 

*  Testa  de  Nevill,  pp.  4,  8,  and  lib. 

t  Another  daughter  of  William  Fitzralph,  of  Alvaston,  Edelina,  was  the  first  wife 
of  Hubert  Fitzralph,  of  Crich.  See  the  previous  account  of  Crich  and  Nichols' 
Collectanea,  vol.  iv.,  pp.  1  and  9.  A  third  daughter,  Matilda,  was  the  wife  of 
Geoffrey  de  Salicosa-Mara. 

I  Dale  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS.,  Vesp.  E.  xxvi.,  f.  169b.     See  appendix  No.  IX. 


184  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

advowson — though  they  do  not  appear  to  have  gained  it — as 
early  as  1253.  In  that  year  (1253)  a  composition  was  entered 
into  between  Sir  John  Chandos  and  his  wife,  Margaret,  and  Sir 
William  Stafford  and  his  wife,  Ermentrude,  respecting  the  right 
to  the  patronage  of  the  churches  of  Eadbourn  and  Egginton,  by 
which  it  was  agreed  that  Chandos  should  take  the  former,  and 
Stafford  the  latter.*  But  we  are  missing  a  link  or  two  in  the 
very  intricate  history  of  the  patronage  of  this  rectory,  and  must 
step  back. 

Soon  after  the  gift  of  the  double  rectory  of  Egginton  to  Dale 
by  Gasci  and  Musters,  we  find,  from  various  entries  in  their  char- 
tulary,  that  the  manor — or,  at  all  events,  the  greater  part  of  it — 
came  into  the  hands  of  William  de  Grendon,  nephew  of  William 
Fitzralph.  His  wife,  Ermentrude,  gave  it,  after  her  husband's 
death,  as  dower  to  her  daughter  Margaret,  on  her  marriage  with 
Kobert  Wakelin.  Wakelin  left  this  estate,  together  with  those  of 
Mugginton  and  Eadbourn — including  in  each  instance  the  advowson 
of  the  rectories — to  his  two  daughters  and  heiresses,  Margaret  and 
Ermentrude,  who  became  the  wives,  as  we  have  already  seen,  of 
Chandos  and  Stafford.t  Chandos  disposed  of .  his  share  of  Eggin- 
ton to  Stafford.  Sir  Eobert,  son  of  Sir  William  and  Ermentrude 
Stafford,  left  five  daughters,  co-heiresses,  amongst  whom  a  partition 
of  the  Stafford  property  was  made  in  the  reign  of  Edward  II. 
Ermentrude  became  the  wife  of  Sir  Eobert  Toke ;  Elizabeth,  of 
William  Tymmore  ;  Eeyne,  of  Thomas  Eolleston ;  Ida,  of  Thomas 
de  Stanton ;  and  Agnes,  of  John  de  Walton. 

A  close  comparison  of  numerous  deeds  J  relative  to  the  Chandos 
and  Stafford  properties  at  Egginton,  Mugginton,  and  Eadbourn, 
taken  in  connection  with  various  Inquisitions,  proves  that  the  manor 
and  part  of  the  advowson  of  the  first  of  these  was  divided  into 
four  parts  between  four  of  the  heiresses  of  Stafford,  Sir  Eobert 
and  Ermentrude  de  Toke  being  excluded.  And  now  comes  in  a 
very  singular,  and  we  believe  unique,  arrangement  respecting  this 
rectory.  The  last  presentation  to  the  half  rectory  made  by  the 
abbot  of  Dale,  took  place,  as  we  have  already  stated,  in  1344. 
In  the  following  year,  Bishop  Norbury,  apparently  on  the  bare 
episcopal  authority,  appropriated  the  half  rectory  (that  is  hah0  the 


*  Add.  MSS.,6,671,  f.  125. 

t  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  sub  Mugginton  and  Eadbourn,  where  tins 
intricate  genealogy  is  more  fully  set  forth. 

J  Abstracts  and  transcripts  of  a  large  number  of  deeds  are  given  in  Add.  MSS., 
6,671,  6,672,  aud  6,695. 


EGGINTON.  185 

great  tithes)  of  Egginton  to  the  abbot  of  Dale  and  his  twenty-four 
monks.  The  Bishop  states  that  he  was  chiefly  induced  to  do  this 
in  order  that  the  monks  might  the  better  exercise  hospitality,  for 
numbers  flocked  to  the  abbey  every  day  for  food  on  account  of 
its  considerable  distance  from  towns.*  This  gift,  which  did  not 
involve  any  patronage,  was  confirmed  to  the  abbey  by  Bishop 
Burghill  in  1400,f  and  is  entered  as  pertaining  to  them  in  the 
Valor  Ecclesiastics  of  Henry  VIII.  John  de  Tymmore  presented 
to  Egginton  rectory  in  1343  ;  and  after  the  other  mediety  of  the 
rectory  fell  to  the  abbot  two  years  later,  the  quadripartite  division 
of  the  advowson  simply  meant  that  there  were  four  different  turns 
to  the  half  rectory  as  it  fell  vacant,  the  other  half  being  absorbed 
by  Dale. 

In  1359,  Isabel,  daughter  of  Thomas  de  Stanton,  granted  her 
fourth  part  of  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Egginton  to  Sir  John 
Chandos,  and  this  moiety  descended  to  the  Poles.  A  year  or  two 
later  we  find  Walton's  share  granted  to  Twyford  and  Morton  in 
trust,  and  it  thence  passed  to  the  Bothes,  and  subsequently  to  the 
Popes  and  to  the  Blounts. 

The  patronage  seems  for  two  centuries  to  have  run  on  pretty 
steadily  in  its  fourfold  turns — Pole,  Eolleston,  Bothe,  and  the 
descendants  of  Tymmore.  The  last  of  these  changed  hands, 
through  lack  of  male  heirs,  repeatedly,  till  we  find,  in  1541,  a 
presentation  by  Humphrey  Babington.  It  is  thus  to  be  accounted 
for : — Alice,  heiress  of  Tymmore,  married  John  Heronville ;  Joan, 
lieu-ess  of  Heronville,  living  1435,  married  William  Leventhorpe ; 
Joan,  heiress  of  Leventhorpe,  living  1441,  married  Henry  Beau- 
mont ;  Eleanor,  third  and  youngest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John 
Beaumont  (grandson  of  Henry)  married  Humphrey  Babington, 
fifth  son  of  Thomas  Babington,  of  Dethick,  and  ancestor  of  the 
line  of  Babingtons  of  Eothley  Temple.^ 

In  1587,  Queen  Elizabeth  granted  a  considerable  parcel  of  the 
possessions  of  Anthony  Babington,  forfeited  by  attainder,  to  her 
favourite,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  Amongst  the  Derbyshire  property 
is  enumerated  a  fourth  turn  of  presentation  to  the  church  of 
Egginton.  §  This  statement  has  caused  us  on  several  occasions  no 
small  trouble  in  order  to  try  and  find  out  how  Anthony  Babington, 

*  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  iii.,  f.  147b. 

t  Ibid,  vol.  vii.,  f.  180. 

J  Shaw's  Staffordshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  63,  375. 

§  Add.  MSS.,  6,697,  f.  444-59. 


186  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

of  Dethick,  the  conspirator,  could  possibly  have  obtained  this  share. 
We  believe,  however,  that  the  above  descent  to  his  relative,  Hum- 
phrey, had  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter,  but  that  this  share 
of  the  rectory  was  really  the  old  half  share  pertaining  to  Dale 
abbey,  and  granted  to  Babington  after  its  dissolution.  If  this 
is  the  case,  it  is  wrongly  described,  and  ought  not  properly  to 
have  carried  any  right  of  presentation  with  it,  after  having  been 
so  long  in  abeyance. 

About  this  time,  a  fresh  claimant  to  a  share  in  the  patronage  of 
this  much  divided  living,  comes  on  the  scene.  The  ancient  family 
of  Lathbury  had  from  an  early  period  held  the  subordinate  manor 
of  Heath-houses,  afterwards  termed  Hargate,  in  this  parish,  as  well 
as  considerable  lands  in  Egginton  proper.  In  1324,  Margaret, 
widow  of  Ealph  Lathbury,  died  seized  of  the  manor  of  Heath- 
houses  ;  of  lands  in  Ambaston,  Chaddesden,  and  Mercaston ;  as 
well  as  of  a  messuage,  forty  acres  of  arable  land,  six  acres  of 
meadow,  £6  6s.  Od.  in  rentals,  and  a  fourth  part  of  a  water-mill 
in  Egginton ;  and  her  son  Ealph  died  seized  of  much  the  same 
property  two  years  later.*  In  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  Anne,  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  Thomas  Lathbury, 
married  Robert  Leigh,  descended  from  a  younger  son  of  the  Leighs 
of  Adlington,  Cheshire .f  From  this  time,  so  far  as  we  can 
unravel  the  very  twisted  history  of  this  benefice,  the  turns  in  the 
presentation  were  five  in  number.  Meanwhile  the  Leighs  purchased 
two  other  of  the  shares  in  the  manor  and  rectory ;  the  Poles  also 
purchased  another  share  of  the  rectory ;  so  that  the  presentation 
then  stood,  Leigh  three  turns  and  Pole  two.  On  the  death  of  Sir 
Henry  Leigh,  in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  his  estate  at  Egginton 
passed  to  his  daughter  and  co-heir  Anne,  who  married  Simon 
Every,  of  Chard,  Somerset,  created  a  baronet  1641. 

It  is  not  surprising  to  find  that  there  have  been  at  least  two 
long  lawsuits  in  connection  with  the  intricacy  of  the  presentation 
to  this  rectory.  One  was  being  waged  in  1631,  which  resulted  in 
the  king  presenting  to  a  vacancy  that  meanwhile  occurred,  and 
another  prolonged  one  took  place  on  the  presentation  of  Sir  Thomas 
Pope  Blount  (claiming  through  Walton)  in  1712. $ 

*Inq.  post.  Mort.,  17  Edw.  II.,  No.  55;  19  Edw.  II.,  No.  28.  For  a  pedigree  of 
Lathbury,  of  Egginton,  beginning  about  1400,  see  Nichol's  Leicestershire,  vol.  vi., 
p.  577. 

+  Harl.  MSS.,  1,093,  f.  54. 

J  Those  curious  in  this  matter  will  find  a  great  deal  of  original  correspondence, 
relative  to  this  latter  most  involved  dispute,  in  Add.  MSS.,  6,671,  ff.  47  to  218. 


JEGGINTON.  187 

The  matter  now  stands  thus  : — the  patronage  is  in  five  parts ; 
two  turns  belonging  to  Sir  Henry  F.  Every,  two  to  E.  S.  C.  Pole, 
and  one  to  Joseph  Leigh. 

After  this  long  explanation,  the  following  list  of  rectors  and 
patrons,  compiled  from  the  Lichfield  Eegisters,  the  Parish  Kegis- 
ters,  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office,  will,  we  hope, 
be  tolerably  intelligible ;  but  it  should  be  added  that  the  list  is 
evidently  not  quite  perfect  in  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  cen- 
turies : — 

1317.  John  de  Sutton;  patron,  abbot  of  Dale. 

1339.  John  del   Horeston,   acolite ;    patron,   abbot   of    Dale.      On    the   death    of 
J.  de  S. 

1343.  John  de  Tymmore ;  patron,  John  de  Tymmore,  sen. 
.  Geoffrey  de  Chaddesden. 

1344.  Nicholas   de   Kersington,   rector   of   Long   Whatton,   exchanges    benefices 
with  G.  de  C.,  rector  of  a  mediety  of  Egginton ;  patron,  abbot  of  Dale. 

1345.  Simon  de  Brancyngham,  rector  of   Carsington,   exchanges  benefices  with 
N.  de  K.,  rector  of  a  mediety  of  Egginton. 

1349.  Richard  de   Makkeley;   patron,   Ealph   de   Eolleston.      On   the   death   of 

John  de  Tymmore. 
1358.  Roger   de    Makkeley ;   patron,    John   de   Eolleston.      On   the   resignation 

of  Eichard  de  M. 
1362.  William  Vessey ;  patrons,  Eobert  de  Twyford  and  Eobert  de  Morton.     On 

the  death  of  E.  de  "W. 

1398.  John  Hulme;  patron,  Henry  de  Barton.* 
1431.  Richard  Brassyngton ;  patron,  William  Eolston  de  Eolston. 
1443.  Ralph  Forde;  patron,  Peter  de  la  Pole.    On  the  death  of  E.  B. 
1491.  Thomas  Rolston;   patrons,  Ealph  Pole  de  Eadburne,  and  Thomas  Babing- 

ton.    On  the  death  of  E.  F. 
1499.  Richard  Smethley;  patron,  William  Bothe.    On  the  death  of  T.  E. 

.  George  Heyth. 
1512.  Roger  Needham;  patron,  Thomas  Eolleston.    On  the  death  of  Q-.  H. 

.  George  Pole. 

1530.  Richard  Smythe ;  patron,  Edmund  Smythe.  i-     On  the  resignation  of  G.  P. 
1541.  William  Babington;  patrons,  Humphrey  Babington,  and  Eleanor  his  wife, 

one  of  the  daughters  and  coheirs  of  John  Beaumont.    On  the  death  of  E.  S. 
1582.  Walter  Bickles.    Parish  Eegisters.\ 
1589.  Simon  Presse;  patron,  German  Pole. 
1597.  Walter  Kynnersley.    Parish  Registers. 

*  We  did  not  note  this  ourselves  at  Lichfield,  but  have  taken  it  from  a  very  in- 
complete list  of  rectors  given  in  Add.  MS3.,  6,672,  f.  49,  and  we  suspect  there  is  a 
mistake  in  the  transcribing  of  the  patron's  name.  If  correctly  given,  he  probably 
presented  as  a  trustee. 

t  A  Caveat  was  entered  in  the  Bishop's  register,  dated  12th  Feb.,  1524,  against  any 
admission  to  the  church  of  Egginton,  except  on  the  presentation  of  Edmund  Smythe 
and  William  Smyth,  of  Barrow,  as  the  next  presentation  had  been  assigned  to  them 
by  John  Bothe.  Lichfield  Eegisters,  vol.  xiii.  &  xiv.,  f.  41. 

J  Said  to  have  been  presented  by  John  Eolleston,  but  of  this  there  is  some  doubt. 
From  the  way  in  which  the  sixteenth  century  rectors  apparently  overlap,  judging  from 
the  entries  of  their  deaths  in  the  registers,  it  would  almost  seem  as  if  there  were  two 
rectors  for  the  last  half  of  that  century.  If  this  is  the  case,  it  would  arise  from  the 
possession  of  the  Dale  abbey  half  of  the  rectory  being  supposed  to  confer  a  right  to 
nominate  a  second  rector. 


188  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

.  William  Whittington. 

1616.  George  Leigh;  patron,  Sir  Henry  Leigh.     On  the  death  of  W.  W. 
1631.  Joseph  Leigh;  patron,  the  King.    On  the  death  of  G.  L. 
1642.  Peter  Yates.     On  the  death  of  J.  L. 

1680.  John  Beardsley ;  patron,  German  Pole.     On  the  death  of  P.  Y. 
1712.  William   Woodcock;    patron,    Sir    Thomas    Pope   Blount    "  pleno    jure,    ut 

dicitui  "    On  the  death  of  J.  B. 

1732.  Thomas  Phillips ;  patron,  Sir  Simon  Every.     On  the  death  of  W.  W. 
1747.  Simon  Every;  patron,  Eev.  Sir  Simon  Every.     On  the  death  of  T.  P. 
1758.  John  Hepworth;  patron,  German  Pole.     On  the  death  of  S.  E. 
1795.  Edward  Pole;  patron,  Sacheverell  Pole.    On  the  death  of  J.  H. 
1824.  John  Leigh;  patron,  Sir  Oswald  Mosley.     On  the  death  of  E.  P. 
1856.  Rowland  Mosley;  patron,  Sir  Henry  F.  Every.     On  the  death  of  J.  L. 

The  Taxation  Eoll  of  Pope  Nicholas  IV.  (1291)  gives  the  annual 
value  of  this  rectory  at  £14  13s.  4d.  ;  the  half  was  valued  at 
£8  2s.  8d.  when  the  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  was  taken,  27  Henry 
VIII.  The  exact  value  of  the  half  pertaining  to  Dale  cannot  be 
given,  as  it  was  classified  with  the  rectory  of  Hkeston,  and  only 
the  total  of  the  two  mentioned. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  drew  up  the 
following  inventory : — 

"Eggyngton,  Oct.  5.     Will  Babyngton  parson. 

j  chales  of  sylver  with  a  paten  parcell  gilt — j  pyx  of  laten — j  canape — j  crosse 
of  copper  &  gilte — ij  candelstycks  of  brasse — j  holly  water  pan  of  brasse— j  bell 
in  the  steple  the  other  ij  were  sold  for  the  repayrynge  of  the  Munck's  brydge,  iij 
oold  coopes — vij  vestments — iij  aulter  clothes — ij  albes — iij  towells  &  j  corporas  - 
j  lytle  hand  bell — j  lytle  sacryng  bell — ij  crewetta  of  pewter — ij  syrplesses — ij 
bells  were  sold  in  the  ijnd  yere  of  the  kyngs  reign  to  the  reparynge  of  the 
Monks  brydge*  wch  is  so  farre  in  decay  that  the  township  is  not  able  to  amend 
the  same." 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners,  of  1650,  merely  say  of  this 
henefice  that  it  is  "  a  parsonage  really  worth  three  score  pounds 
per  annum  noe  chappell  apperteyning  Mr.  Peter  Yates  Incumbent." 

The  notes  of  an  Heraldic  Visitation  of  this  church,  September 
13th,  1611,t  describe  five  coats  of  arms  as  then  extant  in  the 
windows,  all  of  which  have  now  disappeared. 

1.  Or,  on  a  chevron,  git.,  five  plates   (Stafford). 

2.  Paly   of  six,    arg.   and   az.,    on    a    canton,    of   the    second,    a 
martlet,  or   (Lathbury). 

3.  Arg.,  three  mullets,  sub.    (Hammencourt). 

4.  Lathbury  impaling  Mackworth. 

*  Monks'  Bridge,  which  still  retains  that  name,  is  about  a  mile  to  the  west  of 
the  church.  It  crosses  the  Dove,  connecting  Derbyshire  and  Staffordshire.  It 
was  probably  one  of  the  good  works  of  the  monks  of  Tutbury. 

t  Harl.  MSB.,  1,093,  f.  53b. 


EGGINTON.  189 

5.  Lathbury  impaling  a/v/.,  a  chevron,  gu.,  between  three  bundles 
of  rushes  (?)  vert.* 

6.  Az.,  three  stirrups,  or   (Gifford). 

The  pedigrees  of  Lathbury,  etc.,  are  too  imperfect  to  enable  us  to 
identify  the  alliances  of  shields  4  and  5. 

Though  the  heraldic  glass  has  all  gone,  there  are  still  some  very 
interesting  remains  of  old  stained  glass  in  the  chancel.  In  the 
east  window  are  four  small  figures  under  canopies.  One  represents 
Our  Lord  on  the  Cross ;  another,  the  First  Person  of  the  Trinity 
in  the  act  of  blessing;  and  the  side  ones  are  probably  intended  for 
the  Blessed  Virgin  and  S.  John.  The  border  chiefly  consists  of 
castles,  or  on  azure  field,  and  fleurs-de-lis.  There  are  also  several 
old  quarries  of  set  patterns.  The  south  window  of  the  chancel, 
nearest  to  the  nave,  has  two  figures :  one  is  a  man  kneeling,  clad 
in  a  blue  robe,  with  a  rosary  in  his  hands  and  a  dagger  in  his 
belt,  and  having  on  a  scroll  the  words,  "Miserere  mei  d'ne ;"  the 
other  seems  intended  for  a  bishop  or  abbot,  but  the  head  is  gone; 
a  chalice  and  the  lower  part  of  a  pastoral  staff  are  in  his  hands. 
The  border  to  this  glass  is  of  a  crown-and-lozenge  pattern.  This 
latter  glass,  or  at  all  events  the  figures,  we  believe  to  be  not  earlier 
than  the  conclusion  of  the  fifteenth  century ;  but  the  glass  of  the 
east  window  is,  we  think,  of  the  first  half  of  the  fourteenth 
century — i.e.,  of  the  Decorated  period,  and  contemporary  with  the 
stone  work  of  the  window. 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Wilfred,  consists  of  chancel, 
with  modern  north  vestry,  nave,  aisles,  and  low  west  tower.  Mr. 
Rawlins,  who  visited  this  church  in  1822,  gives  the  following 
dimensions: — Nave,  34  ft.  7  in.  by  24  ft.  1  in.;  north  aisle, 
33  ft.  9  in.  by  15  ft.  4  in. ;  south  aisle,  32  ft.  10  in.  by  13  ft.  1  in.; 
chancel,  35  ft.  3  in.  by  16  ft.  7  in.  There  is  apparently  no  trace 
left  in  the  fabric  of  the  old  Norman  church  that  doubtless  stood 
on  this  site.  The  oldest  work  seems  to  be  circa  1290-1300,  when 
the  church  seems  to  have  been  rebuilt  nearly  throughout.  To  that 
date  pertains  the  chancel,  with  its  large  east  window,  the  tracery 
of  which  is  divided  into  five  lancets  without  any  foliations ;  the 
four  two-light  windows  in  the  side  walls ;  and  the  south  priest's 
door.  The  arcades  of  the  nave  are  dissimilar  in  style  and  date. 
That  on  the  north  side  we  take  to  be  of  the  same  date  as  the 


*  Arg.,  a  chevron,  sab.,  between  three  bundles  of  laths,  vert,  were  the  arras  of 
the  old  London  Company  of  Woodmongers.  This  is  the  nearest  coat  we  have  been 
able  to  find  in  Papworth.  etc. 


190  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

chancel — viz.,  at  the  beginning  of  the  Decorated  period.  The 
arcade  is  of  three  bays,  and  is  supported  by  circular  columns  with 
plainly- moulded  capitals.  The  west  window  of  the  north  aisle  is 
a  fine  widely-splayed  lancet  window  with  a  trefoil  head.  It  is  a 
mistake  to  suppose  that  such  windows  must  of  necessity  be  of 
Early  English  date.  We  believe  it  to  be  coeval  with  the  rest  of 
the  aisle.  The  east  window  of  this  aisle  was  originally  lighted 
in  a  similar  way ;  but  a  three-light  Perpendicular  window,  circa 
1400,  was  subsequently  inserted,  most  likely  to  afford  space  for  the 
display  of  memorial  glass.  Over  this  window  is  the  upper  part  of 
the  old  lancet,  now  much  overgrown  with  ivy ;  but  in  a  photograph 
of  the  church,  taken  several  years  ago,  its  character  is  plainly 
to  be  seen.  One  of  the  north  windows  of  this  aisle  is  of  two 
lights,  without  foils,  and  exactly  resembles  the  side  chancel 
windows.  There  was  another  window  of  the  same  style  in  this 
wall ;  but  it  has  recently  given  way  to  a  new  one,  at  the  time 
when  the  blocked-up  north  door  was  being  re-opened.  During  that 
work  a  toad  was  disclosed  embedded  in  the  masonry.  It  lived  for 
a  short  time  after  its  discovery.* 

The  south  aisle  we  are  inclined  to  date  circa  1320.  The  arches 
that  separate  this  aisle  from  the  nave  are  supported  on  columns 
formed  of  four  clustered  shafts,  and  the  responds  at  each  end  are 
rounded.  The  south  doorway  is  a  good  specimen  of  Decorated 
work,  with  continuous  mouldings  ;  but  the  windows  in  the  south 
are  late  debased  ones,  of  square  form,  with  four  and  three  lights. 
The  east  window  is  original,  having  three  lights  of  plain  inter- 
secting tracery. 

Over  the  south  arcade  are  three  two-light  clerestory  windows  of 
a  late  date;  but  they  are  now  closed,  owing  to  the  roof  of  the 
south  aisle  having  been  carried  up,  in  comparatively  modern  times, 
in  a  continuous  slope  with  the  nave  roof.  Over  the  north  arcade 
it  is  interesting  to  note  two  very  small  square  clerestory  windows, 
in  one  of  which  the  quatrefoil  foliations  still  remain.  These  are 
undoubtedly  the  original  windows  of  the  Decorated  church.  Cleres- 
tory windows  of  that  date  are  most  rarely  met  with  in  the  midland 
district.  In  the  timbers  of  the  roofs  may  be  noted  some  moulded 
beams  that  seem  to  be  of  Decorated  date,  and  in  the  north  aisle 
are  three  pieces  of  well-carved  work  pertaining  to  the  Perpendicular 
period. 

.  *  For  another  instance  of  an  ecclesiastical  toad  in  this  county,  see  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  425. 


EGGLNTON.  191 

The  tower  is  late  in  the  Perpendicular  style,  with  debased  battle- 
ments and  pinnacles.  There  is  no  west  door,  but  a  pointed  three- 
light  window  exists.  On  a  stone  high  up  in  the  outer  wall  of  the 
north  aisle  is  carved — "1593,  B.S.,  W.K.,"  which  probably  gives 
the  date  of  the  battlements  of  the  north  aisle  and  of  other  work 
done  to  the  roofs  at  that  time. 

In  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  good  sedile  with  a  trefoil 
head,  and  having  over  it  a  hood  mould  terminating  in  a  bishop's 
and  a  priest's  head.  There  is  a  small  corresponding  piscina  niche 
close  to  it.  In  the  opposite  wall  is  the  pointed  recess  of  an 
almery,  in  the  sides  of  which  may  be  noticed  the  grooves  for  a 
shelf.  On  the  right  hand  of  the  east  window  is  a  plain  bracket. 
In  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel,  close  to  its  west  end,  is  a  "low- 
side  window"*  with  a  square  opening.  By  the  east  window  of  the 
south  aisle  there  is  also  a  projecting  corbel  head,  carved  to 
resemble  a  knight  in  his  coif-de-mailles.  The  font  is  modern.  It 
may  also  be  well  to  notice  in  the  chancel  an  oak  chair,  thus 
inscribed — "  1686  T.M.,"  and  a  Holy  Family,  after  Murillo,  copied 
by  Henderson,  and  "  presented  to  this  church  by  Joseph  Leigh, 
Esqr.,  of  Belmont,  Cheshire,  A.D.  1833." 

In  the  south  wall  of  the  south  aisle  are  two  low  recesses  with 
continuous  mouldings.  One  is  unoccupied,  but  in  the  other  is  the 
defaced  stone  effigy  of  a  woman,  holding  a  heart  in  her  hands. 
(Plate  VIII.)  These  recesses  must  have  been  built  here  for  the 
co-founders  of  this  aisle — possibly  for  those  who  rebuilt  not  only 
the  aisle,  but  the  chancel  and  most  of  the  church.  It  seems  very 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  is  the  effigy  of  Elizabeth,  co-heiress 
of  Stafford,  and  wife  of  William  Tymmore.  She  died  before  her 
husband,  and  he  was  buried  in  Staffordshire. 

On  the  floor,  within  the  altar  rails,  are  stones  to  the  memory  of 
Francis  Every,  1690;  Sir  Henry  Every,  second  baronet,  1700,  and 
his  wife,  1706 ;  Eev.  Simon  Every,  1758 ;  Alexander  Beardsley, 
1687;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Beardsley,  rector,  1709;  and  Kev.  John 
Hepworth,  rector,  1799. 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  monument  to  Sir 
Simon  Every,  first  baronet,  who  married  Anne,  daughter  and 
co-heiress  of  Sir  Henry  Leigh ;  and  to  Sir  Henry  Every,  second 
baronet,  who  married  Vere,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Sir 

*  On  the  interesting  subject  of  "low-side  windows,"  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire, 
vol.  iii.,  under  Croxall,  Spondon,  and  Raveiiston.  The  old  hall  of  Egginton,  and 
probably  therefore  the  chief  part  of  the  village,  was  near  to  the  church  on  the  south 
side,  thus  confirming  the  "  sanctus-bell "  theory. 


192  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Henry  Herbert — "  Dame  Vere  erects  this,  1701 ;"  a  monument  to 
Eev.  Thomas  Phillips,  rector  (1747)  and  his  family ;  and  several 
to  the  Mosleys. 

On  the  south  wall  is  a  monument  to  Rev.  Joseph  Leigh,  rector, 
1856.  On  the  floor  are  stones  to  the  memory  of  Sir  Henry 
Every,  sixth  baronet,  1755;  to  his  brother,  Eev.  Sir  John  Every, 
seventh  baronet,  1799 ;  and  to  Martha,  wife  of  Sir  John  Every, 
fourth  baronet,  1729. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  are  slate  slabs  against  the 
wall  to  Penelope,  wife  of  Sir  Henry  Every,  ninth  baronet,  1812  ; 
Eev.  Sir  Simon  Every,  fifth  baronet,  1753 ;  and  Dame  Frances 
Every,  wife  of  sixth  baronet,  1754. 

The  tower  contains  three  bells  : — 

I.    "I  was  recast  again  to  sing 

By  friends  to  country  church  &  king. 
Thomas  Hedderley  founder  Nottingham   1778." 

IL  "  Ihc.  Ave  Maria  gracia  plena  Dominus  tecum."  In  beautiful 
Lombardic  capitals  of  the  same  character  as  those  at  Breaston  and 
Marston-on-Dove.  This  must  have  been  the  bell  spared,  when  its 
fellows  were  sold  for  the  repairing  of  Monks'  Bridge. 

III.    "I  sweetly  toling  men  do  call 

To  taste  of  meats  that  feeds  the  soole,  1615." 
The  bell  mark  of  Henry  Oldfield. 

The  registers,  which  are  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  begin 
in  1561  ;  but  down  to  the  year  1598  it  is  a  copy  of  an 
older  book.  The  first  entry  is  : — 

1561.  Margerie  Leighe  was  baptized  the  xi  dale  Auguste  yeare  aforesaid. 

A  quarto  black-letter  copy  of  Erasmus'  Paraphrase,  in  fair  con- 
dition, is  kept  in  the  vestry. 


Eltaaston. 


<H>rhbroo[;. 


| HE  three  hamlets  of  Elvaston,  Ambaston,  and  Thurlston, 
which  conjointly  form  the  parish  of  Elvaston,  were  held, 
when  the  Domesday-  Survey  was  taken,  by  Geoffrey 
Alselin  or  Hanselyn.  At  that  time  there  was  a  church  and  a 
priest  on  the  manor.  Large  possessions  were  made  over  to 
Geoffrey  by  the  Conqueror;  his  principal  residence  being  at  Shel- 
ford,  in  Nottinghamshire.  From  him  descended  Ealph  Hanselyn, 
who  played  an  important  part  in  the  baronial  wars  of  the  time  of 
Stephen.  Ealph  Hanselyn  was  the  founder  of  the  Augustine 
Priory  of  Shelford,  and  amongst  the  considerable  endowments  that 
he  bestowed  upon  it  was  the  advowson  of  his  church  at  Elvaston.* 
This  gift  did  not  remain  undisputed  ;  for  William  Fitz-Ralph, 
seneschal  of  Normandy,  and  founder  of  Dale  Abbey,  held  much 
laud  in  Elvaston  proper,  and  in  the  other  subordinate  manors 
within  the  parish;  so  much  so,  that  for  a  time  the  alternate 
presentation  to  the  rectory  was  held  to  be  in  his  hands,  and  he 
presented  in  the  reign  of  John.  One  of  his  daughters,  Edelina, 
married  Hubert  Fitz-Ralph,  of  Crich.  Their  daughter  and  heiress, 
Juliana,  married  Anker  de  Frecheville  ;  and  Amicia,  widow  of 
Anker  de  Frecheville  (grandson  of  the  last-named  Anker)  laid 
claim  to  the  advowson  of  Elvaston  as  a  descendant  of  William 
Fitz-Ralph,  and  summoned  the  prior  of  Shelford  to  the  King's 
Bench  in  the  year  1276 ;  but  she  was  not  able  to  substantiate  her 
claim  .f  In  the  first  instance  the  priory  merely  presented  to  the 
rectory,  which  was  valued  in  1291,  under  Pope  Nicholas'  Taxation 
Roll,  at  £20  per  annum ;  but  within  a  very  few  years  the  great 

*  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.,  p.  65;  Abbrev,  Placit.,  14  Edw.  II.,  Hot.  150. 
|  Nichols'  Collectanea,  vol.  iv.,  p.  26. 


196  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

tithes  were  appropriated  to  the  monks,  and  a  vicarage  ordained, 
for  the  Lichfield  Eegisters  give  a  presentation  to  the  vicarage  as 
early  as  1298.* 

The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  clear  annual 
value  of  the  vicarage  at  £5  8s.  9d.,  the  vicar  paying  17s.  3d. 
yearly  to  the  priory.  The  tithes  of  grain,  together  with  the  profits 
of  the  chapelry  of  Ockbrook  and  the  tithe  of  a  grange  and  a  mill 
at  Ockbrook,  held  by  the  abbot  of  Dale,  brought  to  the  monks  a 
revenue  of  .£23. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  Henry  VIII.  granted, 
in  1539,  the  manor  of  Shelford  and  almost  the  whole  of  the 
possessions  of  the  late  priory  to  Sir  Michael  Stanhope.  By  this 
grant  he  became  possessed  of  the  impropriate  rectories  of  five 
Nottinghamshire  churches,  of  two  in  Lincolnshire,  and  of  Elvaston, 
with  the  parochial  chapelries  of  Ockbrook,  in  Derbyshire,  together 
with  the  advowsons  of  the  respective  vicarages,  t  The  Parlia- 
mentary Commissioners  of  1650  say  of  Elvaston,  that  it  is  "a 
viccaridge  really  worth  twenty  pounds  per  annum,  the  place  desti- 
tute att  present."  The  great  tithes  and  presentation  to  the  vicarage 
still  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  Stanhopes  (Earls  of  Harrington). 

The  following  list  of  the  vicars  of  Elvaston  and  their  respective 
patrons  is  compiled  from  the  Episcopal  Registers  and  the  returns 
of  the  Augmentation  Office.  As  the  prior  of  Shelford  was  always 
the  patron  in  pre-Reformation  days,  it  has  not  been  thought 
necessary  to  reiterate  that  fact. 

1298.  Frater  Godmannus,  canon  of  Shelford. 

1311.  Hugo  de  Suwelle.     On  the  resignation  of  F.  Q-. 

1330.  Richard  de  Leicester,  canon  of  Shelford.     On  the  death  of  H.  de  S. 

1363.  William  de  Kinalton.    On  the  resignation  of  E.  de  L. 

1365.  Thomas  de  Byrton.    On  the  resignation  of  W.  de  K. 

1391.  Robert  de  Shelford.    On  the  resignation  of  T.  de  B. 

.  Robert  Fyssher. 
1417.  William  Derby.    On  the  resignation  of  E.  F. 

1436.  John  Barton.    On  the  resignation  of  W.  D. 

1437.  William  Derby.    On  the  death  of  J.  B. 
1442.  John  Benyngton.    On  the  death  of  W.  D. 

.  Richard  Starkey. 

1467.  William  Lyverpull.     On  the  resignation  of  R.  S.     Collated  by  the  Bishop. 
1496.  John  Thorley.     On  the  death  of  W.  L. 
1500.  Thomas  Porte.     On  the  death  of  J.  T. 

.  Nicholas  Holmes. 

1658.  John   Haywood ;    patron,    Anne    Stanhope    de    Shelford,   widow.      On   the 
resignation  of  N.  H. 

_  *  Unfortunately  there  is  no  Chartulary  of  Shelford  extant,  so  that  we  are  unable  to 
give  the  precise  date  or  any  particulars  relative  to  the  ordination  of  the  vicarage, 
t  Collins'  Peerage,  vol.  ii.,  p.  201. 


ELVASTON.  197 

1564.  Richard  Cloes  ;  patron,  Anne  Stanhope. 

.  Gervaise  Hall. 

1621.  Robert  Townson  ;  patron,  Sir  John  Stanhope.    On  the  resignation  of  G.  H. 
1625.  Thomas  Hudson;  patron,  Sir  John  Stanhope. 
1635.  John  Houlkes  ;  patron,  Sir  John  Stanhope. 

.  John  Clayton. 

1673.  Arthur  Francis ;  patron,  John  Stanhope.    On  the  death  of  J.  C. 
1691.  John  Brentnall ;  patron,  John  Stanhope. 

1695.  Thomas  Cantrell;  patron,  Alexander  Stanhope.    On  the  resignation  of  J.  B. 
1699.  Anthony  Blaekwell;  patron,  Alexander  Stanhope.     On  the  death  of  T.  C. 
1723.  Thomas  Blunt ;  patron,  Thomas  Stanhope. 
1734.  John  Lowe  ;  patron,  Charles  Stanhope. 
1768.  John  Swain ;    patron,  William,  first  Earl  of   Harrington.      On  the  death  of 

J.  L. 

1790.  John  Crauford ;  patron,  Earl  of  Harrington. 

1806.  John  Swain;  patron,  Earl  of  Harrington.    On  the  death  of  J.  C. 
1842.  Frederick  Nathaniel   Hignmore ;    patron,   Earl  of   Harrington.      On    the 

death  of  J.  S. 
1874.  Alexander    Robert    Goldie;    patron,  Earl  of  Harrington.      On   the    death 

of  F.  N.  H. 

The  Inventory  of  Church  Goods,  taken  at  the  beginning  of  the 
reigu  of  Edward  VI.,  has  the  following  entry  relative  to  this 
parish  :  — 

"  ELVASTON — Ser  Nycolas  Holmes  Vycar. 

"j  chalys  of  sylver  parcel!  guylt  with  j  paten — iiij  bells  in  the  steple — j  hand 
bell — j  sacryng  bell — iiij  vestments  wherof  j  of  blew  velvet,  j  of  whyt  velvet,  j  of 
red  damaske,  j  of  grene  saye — iiij  albes — iiij  ameses — ij  copes  of  blew  saten,  j  of 
whyte  fustyon — xj  alter  clothes — iiij  towells — ij  candelstycks  of  brasse — ij  hang- 
ing clothes — ij  cruetts — j  holy  water  stocke  of  brasse — j  corporas  with  the  case. 

"We  had  ij  chapells  within  or  parishe,  j  at  Thorlston,  the  other  at  Ambaston, 
which  had  nothing  saving  ij  bells  of  the  which  j  the  inhabitants  of  Ambaston 
have  sold  the  price  iij*.  iiij^.  &  the  other  in  the  hands  of  Ellys  Bokson  & 
Will  Boghyn.  Ser  Thos.  Wyndson  knyght  one  of  the  iuhabytanns  of  the  lordship 
hath  taken  the  said  chapells  to  his  own  proper  nse." 

Of  the  two  chapels  of  Thurlston  and  Ambaston  there  are  no 
remains,  nor  even  any  tradition  as  to  their  site.  The  feast  day  at 
Ambaston  is  said  to  be  "the  second  Sunday  after  the  12th  of 
September."  The  Windsors  purchased  the  manor  of  Ockbrook, 
and  other  lands  in  this  parish,  of  Sir  Thomas  Seymour  early  in 
the  sixteenth  century,  but  Frederick  Lord  Windsor  resold  them  in 
1583.*  There  was  a  grange  (i.e.,  a  monastic  farm)  both  at 
Ambaston  and  Thurlston,  and  these  chapels  would  undoubtedly  be 
for  the  use  of  the  monks  and  their  tenants  on  their  respective 
estates,  and  not  of  the  nature  of  chapels  of  ease  to  the  parish 
church.  The  parish  church  was,  as  we  have  seen,  appropriated  to 
Shelford  priory,  but  these  two  granges  were  the  property  of 

*  Lysons'  Derbyshire,  p.  225. 


198  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Derbyshire  abbeys.  In  1379,  a  large  endowment  of  lands,  con- 
sisting of  fifteen  messuages,  240  acres  of  arable  land,  four  acres 
of  meadow,  one  rood  of  pasture,  and  20s.  in  rents,  situate  on  the 
manors  of  Elvaston,  Thurlston,  and  Ambaston,  was  conferred  upon 
the  abbey  of  Darley  by  Sir  Thomas  Franceys  and  others.*  And 
in  1391,  we  find  that  the  abbey  was  seized  of  five  messuages,  one 
hundred  acres  of  arable  land,  and  thirteen  acres  of  meadow,  in 
Elvaston,  Thurlston,  and  Ambaston.f  In  the  reign  of  Henry  VI , 
the  abbeys  of  Darley  and  Dale  are  each  mentioned  as  owning  one 
knight's  fee  within  the  parish, of  Elvaston. J  The  lands  of  these 
two  establishments  overlapped  in  the  different  townships,  and 
neither  Thurlston  nor  Ambaston  exclusively  pertained  to  one  or 
the  other,  but  it  seems  that  the  monks  of  Dale  had  a  grange  at 
the  latter  place, §  and  those  of  Darley  at  the  former. 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Bartholomew,  consists  of 
nave,  south  aisle  and  porch,  chancel,  and  lofty  western  tower. 
There  is  also  a  shallow  north  transept — a  memorial  chapel  of  the 
Stanhopes.  Of  the  church  that  was  standing  here  at  the  time  of 
the  Domesday  Survey  there  are  now  no  apparent  remains.  The 
earliest  work  of  the  present  fabric  is  of  the  Early  English  period 
of  the  commencement  of  the  thirteenth  century.  To  that  date 
belong  the  tall  lancet  window  at  the  west  end  of  the  south  aisle, 
and  the  three  small  lancet  windows  (now  blocked  up)  on  the  north 
side  of  the  chancel.  The  string  course  of  this  chancel  wall  is  also 
Early  English. 

To  the  Decorated  date,  circa  1300,  pertain  the  two  three-light 
windows,  with  intersecting  mullions,  in  the  south  wall  of  the  aisle; 
the  chancel  arch;  and  the  arcade  of  three  pointed  arches,  sup- 
ported on  octagon  pillars,  between  the  nave  and  the  aisle.  The 
south  porch  seems  also  to  belong  to  this  period :  it  is  evident  that 
it  was  originally  roofed  with  stone  slabs. 

The  church  underwent  extensive  repairs,  and  a  general  restoration, 
towards  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  when  the  Perpendicular 
style  was  in  vogue.  To  this  period  belong  the  three  clerestory 
south  windows,  the  east  window  of  the  south  aisle,  all  the  windows 
of  the  north  side  of  the  nave,  the  tower,  the  roof  of  the  nave,  and 

•  Inq.  post  Mort.,  3  Hie.  II.,  No.  127.  See  also  Darley  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS., 
Titus  C.  ix.,  ft.  92-4.  With  respect  to  an  arrangement  between  the  abbey  of  Darley 
and  the  priory  of  Shelford  respecting  the  tithes  due  to  the  latter  as  rectors  of 
Elvaston,  see  the  same  Chartulary,  f.  30. 

•f  Inq.  post  Mort.,  15  Hie.  II.,  No.  86. 

J  Inq.  post  Mort.,  10  Hen.  VI.,  No.  30. 

§  There  is  much  more  about  Ambaston  than  about  Thurlston  in  the  Dale  Chartu- 
lary.— Cott.  MSS.,  vesp.  E.  xxvi.  For  Dale  possessions  in  this  parish,  see  ff.  8-19. 


ELVASTON.  199 

the  chancel  screen  and  remains  of  stall  work.  One  of  the  south 
chancel  windows  is  also  of  this  date ;  hut  the  other  south  window 
and  the  priest's  door  are  insertions  of  a  later  and  more  debased 
style.  The  arches  of  the  south  clerestory  windows  (see  Plate  IX), 
as  well  as  those  in  the  north  wall  of  the  nave,  are  remarkable  for 
having  their  sides  nearly  straight. 

We  are,  fortunately,  able  to  assign  the  precise  date  to  these 
extensive  alterations.  Walter  Bloiint,  first  Lord  Mountjoy,  by  will 
dated  July  8th,  1474,  ordained  that  the  parish  church,  and  chancel 
of  Our  Lady,  at  Elvaston,  should  be  made  up  and  finished  com- 
pletely out  of  his  own  proper  goods,  and  a  third  bell  called  a  tenor 
be  bought  for  the  same  church;  and  also  that  a  convenient  tomb 
should  be  set  in  that  church  over  his  wife  Eleue/;:  The  heiress 
of  the  Hanselyn  family  brought  the  manor  of  Elvaston  to  the 
Bardolphs,  who  held  itf  until  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  when  it 
passed  to  Sir  Thomas  Blount,}:  the  father  of  the  first  Lord 
Mountjoy.  It  remained  in  their  family  till  about  the  middle  of 
the  sixteenth  century,  when  it  was  purchased  by  the  Stanhopes. 
Helen,  the  wife  of  Lord  Mountjoy,  was  the  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Byron,  of  Clayton,  Lancashire.  There  is  now  no  trace  of  her 
tomb.  It  was  probably  swept  away,  together  with  other  memorials 
of  the  Blounts,  by  the  Stanhopes,  in  the  alterations  they  subse- 
quently made,  in  order  to  find  room  for  their  own  monuments. 

The  tower  is  a  fine  example  of  the  Perpendicular  work  of  that 
date.  The  ogee-shaped  hood-moulds  over  the  double  belfry  windows, 
and  the  expanding  lines  of  indented  moulding  that  proceed  upwards 
to  the  parapets,  give  a  peculiar  effect  to  the  upper  stage.  There  is 
a  ring  of  four  bells,  thus  inscribed : — 

I.  "  Sit    nomen    Domine    benedictum.      Gloria   in    excelsis    Deo, 
Amen,  Amen.      Gloria    Deo    os    meum    annunciabit    laudem  tuam. 
IHS.      John  Taylor  and  Son  Founders  Loughbro  1847." 

II.  "Jhesus  be  our  Speed,  1595."     The  mark  of  Henry  Oldfield. 

III.  "John  Taylor  and  Son   Founders   Loughbro  late  of  Oxford 
St.  Neots  and  Buckland  Brewer  Devon." 

IV.  The  Lombardic  initials  E.  D.  and  G.  F.  each  repeated  three 
times,   also   the   initials   K.  I.,    and   the   date   1564. 

In  order  to  provide  a  receptacle  for  the  large  monument  of    Sir 

*  Dugdale's  Baronage,  vol.  i.,  p.  520.  For  further  particulars  relative  to  this  will, 
and  of  the  estates  of  which  he  was  seized,  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  ii.,  pp. 
7,  196  ;  also  Stowe's  Survey,  bk.  iii.,  p.  133. 

t  Testa  de  Nevil  ;  Iiiq.  post  Mort.,  3  Edw.  III.,  No.  66;  9  Eic.  II.,  No.  11 ;  13  Hie. 
II.,  No.  6;  etc. 

|  Inq.  post  Mort.,  19  Hen.  VI.,  No.  30. 


200  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

John  Stanhope,  who  died  in  1634,  the  bay  of  the  north  wall  of 
the  nave  nearest  the  chancel  was  taken  down,  and  a  transept 
18  ft.  by  9  ft.  built  out  from  the  main  building.  It  is  lighted  by  a 
large  square-headed  transomed  window,  and  the  clerestory  window 
above  it  is  of  a  similarly  debased  style.  It  may  here  be  remarked 
that  we  have  reasons  for  thinking  that  this  church  had  a  north  as 
well  as  a  south  aisle  previous  to  its  rebuilding  in  1474. 

The  condition  of  the  pews  and  the  general  state  of  the  interior 
of  the  church  are  anything  but  creditable  to  those  concerned — a 
large  chimneyed  stove  standing  in  the  centre  of  an  open  space 
directly  in  front  of  the  chancel  screen — but  there  are  several  good 
monuments  to  the  Stanhopes,  and  some  interesting  old  wood  work. 
The  slightly-gabled  roof  of  the  nave  is  in  fairly  good  condition, 
and  has  some  well-carved  bosses.  Its  date  is  evidently  that  of 
the  tower  and  the  rest  of  the  Perpendicular  alterations.  Four 
of  the  tie-beams  are  of  later  date,  and  were  probably  inserted 
when  the  north  Stanhope  chapel  was  added ;  but  the  old  carved 
spandrels  have  been  used  up  below  them.  On  one  of  the  spandrels 
is  a  shield  charged  with  a  castle,  and  supported  by  two  animals, 
apparently  talbots.  At  the  west  end  is  a  badge  that  we  could  only 
see  indistinctly,  but  which  appeared  to  be  the  stump  of  a  tree 
erased  and  a  fetterlock.  The  chancel  roof  is  modern.  The  east 
end  of  the  south  aisle  —which  serves  as  the  Stanhope  pew,  and 
has  some  inner  carving  of  seventeenth  century  date,  is  screened  off 
by  a  traceried  parclose  of  the  Perpendicular  period.  This  would 
be  "the  chancel  of  Our  Lady"*  referred  to  in  the  will  of  Lord 
Mountjoy ;  for  the  altar  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  would  naturally 
stand  in  the  side  aisle,  and  not  in  the  chancel  proper.  Here  would 
be  the  site  of  the  tomb  of  the  Lady  Helen,  and  we  have  no  doubt 
that  this  parclose  was  erected  by  the  executors  of  Lord  Mountjoy. 

There  is  also  a  fine  screen  separating  the  nave  from  the  chancel 
proper,  and  this,  though  probably  of  the  fifteenth  century,  we  take 
to  be  of  earlier  date  than  the  repairs  ordered  by  Lord  Mountjoy. 
There  are  some  good  details  of  carving  on  both  sides,  though 
perhaps  there  is  the  greater  finish  on  the  east  side.  The  chancel 
was  evidently  treated  as  a  regular  quire ;  the  jambs  of  the  doorway 
of  the  screen  being  prolonged  into  the  sides  of  stalls  facing  the 

*  It  is  a  mistake  to  think  that  the  term  chancel,  "  cancellum,"  in  mediaeval  phrase- 
ology, was  invariably  applied  to  the  most  eastern  part  of  the  church  or  choir.  It  was 
often  used  for  the  east  ends  of  the  aisles,  especially  when  they  were  separated  by  a 
scrcpii  (cancellus)  from  the  rest  of  the  church.  Thus  in  an  order  for  the  repair  of 
the  chapel  in  the  tower,  an.  1240,  mention  is  made  of  the  ''  cancellum  Beatae  Maria 
in  ecclesia  Sancti  Petri  et  caricelluin  beati  Petri  in  eadem  ecclesia." 


ELVASTON.  201 

east,  having  boldly-carved  animals  as  fiiiials  or  poppy-heads — on 
one  side  an  antelope,  on  the  other  a  chained  lion.  From  this  we 
may  gather  that  the  chancel  would  he  fitted  round  with  stalls  for 
special  quire  services — an  unusual  arrangement  for  an  ordinary 
vicarage  church,  especially  when  we  are  not  aware  of  there  being 
any  chantry  priests  attached  to  it.  Probably  the  monks  from  the 
granges  of  Ambaston  and  Thurlston  occasionally,  or  on  festivals, 
took  part  in  the  services  of  the  parish  church. 

The  font,  at  the  west  end  of  the  church,  has  an  octagon  base, 
but  a  rounded  top.  It  is  30  in.  in  diameter,  and  stands  40  in. 
high.  We  believe  it  to  be  of  Decorated  date.  In  one  of  the 
north  windows  of  the  nave  is  a  piece  of  old  glass,  consisting  of  the 
lower  half  of  a  lion  rampant.  The  rails  in  front  of  the  altar  are 
of  wrought  iron  of  seventeenth  century  date. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  chancel,  blocking  up  the  Early  English 
lancets,  is  the  costly  and  elaborate  monument  to  Sir  John  Stanhope 
(who  died  in  1610)  and  his  second  wife.  The  recumbent  effigies, 
in  marble,  of  the  knight  and  his  lady,  under  a  canopy,  are  finished 
with  the  greatest  precision  of  detail  in  all  that  affects  features,  or 
dress,  or  armour.  As  an  instance  of  this  fidelity  to  detail,  the 
visitor  should  notice  the  pin  with  which  the  lady's  hood  is  fastened 
back.  Over  the  figures  is  the  following  inscription,  now  somewhat 
illegible : — 

"Heare  lyeth  ye  bodyes  of  Sr  John  Stanhope  K*  Sonn  and  heire  of  Sr  Thomas 
Stanhope  of  Shellforde  in  ye  Countie  of  Nottingham  Kl  &  by  Margreat  one  of  y« 
daughters  and  coheirs  of  Sr  John  Port  of  Etwall  in  y*  countie  of  Darby  K.'  and 
He  was  first  marryed  to  Cordall  daughter  &  one  of  ye  coheirs  of  Richard 
Allington  by  whom  he  had  issue  only  Sr  Phillip  Stanhope  K*  Secondly  he 
married  Catherine  ye  daughter  of  Thomas  Trentham  of  Roseter  in  y8  countie  of 
Stafford  by  whom  he  had  issue  vii  sons  and  viii  daughters  viz  Sr  John  Stanhope 
E>,  Tho :  Willi  :  Tho :  Michael,  Francis,  John  Posthumus ;  Cordelia,  Anne,  Jane, 
Katarine,  Dorothis,  Elizabeth,  Jane,  Margeret,  he  ended  y8  lyeff  y8  last  of 
January  1610  being  of  y*  age  of  52  yeares. 

T«  Lady  Catherine  Stanhope  his  last  wiefe  in  testimony  of  her  love  at  hir  one 
coste  and  chardges  erected  this  monument." 

Over  the  canopy  is  a  six -quartered  coat: — 

1  and  6.     Quarterly,  Erm.  and  gu.    (Stanhope). 

2.  Vert,  three  wolves  passant,  or   (Maulovel). 

3.  Sab.,  a  bend  between  six  cross  crosslets,   arg.    (Longvilliers). 

4.  -dry.,  three  saltires,  sab.    (Lexinton). 

Az. ,  a  fesse  engrailed  between  three  pigeons,  each  having  in  the 
beak  a  cross  formee  fitchee,  or.  (Port). 

The  Stanhopes,  who  were  originally  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 
obtained  extensive  estates  in  Nottinghamshire  in  the  fourteenth 


202  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

century,  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  John  Stanhope  with  Elizabeth, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Stephen  Maulovel,  who  by  his  mother, 
Elizabeth,  was  cousin  and  heir  to  Sir  John  Longvilliers.  Sir  John 
Longvilliers  was  grandson  and  heir  to  Thomas  Longvilliers  (baron 
of  Edward  III.)  by  his  wife  Berta,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of 
Robert  Markham,  son  and  heir  of  Richard  Markham  by  Isabel  his 
wife,  sister  and  heiress  of  Richard  de  Lexinton,  lord  of  Tuxford. 

Sir  Michael  Stanhope,  the  seventh  in  direct  descent  from  the 
abovenamed  Sir  John,  was  the  first  to  reside  at  Elvaston,  as  parcel 
of  the  estate  of  the  dissolved  monastery  of  Shelf ord.  His  eldest 
son,  Sir  Thomas  Stanhope,  married  Margaret,  daughter  and 
co-heiress  of  Sir  John  Port,  of  Etwall  and  Cubley,*  and  was 
buried  at  Shelford.  The  monument  we  are  now  considering  is 
that  of  his  son  and  heir,  Sir  John  Stanhope,  who  was  knighted  by 
King  James  on  his  first  coming  into  England. 

On  the  lower  part  of  the  monument  is  the  quartered  coat  of 
Stanhope,  Maulovel,  Longvilliers,  and  Lexinton,  impaling  the  quar- 
terings  of  Sir  John's  second  wife : — 

1.  Arg.,  three  griffins'  heads  erased,  sab.,  beaked,  <JH.  (Trentham). 

2.  Arg.,  on  a  chief,  or,  a  hawk,  sab.  (Hoord). 

3.  Gu.,   a  bend  fusilly,  or,    within    a   bordure    engrailed,  of  the 
second  (Marshall). 

4.  Arg.,  six  billets,  az.,  fretty,   three   in   fesse   and   as   many  in 
pale  (Hurst). t 

Sir  Philip  Stanhope,  the  only  issue  of  Sir  John's  first  marriage, 
was  created  Baron  Stanhope  of  Shelford  in  1616,  and  Earl  of 
Chesterfield  in  1628.  From  him  descend  the  Earls  of  Chesterfield. 

Of  the  seven  sons  of  the  second  marriage  all  died  young,  except 
William  (who  left  three  sons,  who  all  died  childless),  and  John,  the 
eldest  son  and  heir.  Sir  John  Stanhope,  of  Elvaston,  was  knighted 
in  1607;  elected  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  Derbyshire  in  18  James  I., 
and  also  in  the  first  parliament  of  Charles  I.  ;  he  also  served  for 
the  borough  of  Leicester  in  the  parliament  of  the  third  year  of 
that  reign.  He  was  Sheriff  of  Derbyshire  in  1629,  and  died  in 
1638.  For  the  reception  of  his  monument,  the  chapel  on  the  north 
side  of  the  nave,  which  we  have  already  described,  was  erected. 
His  marriages  and  issue  are  detailed  in  the  long  Latin  inscrip- 
tion : — 

*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  92,  167. 

t  The  right  of  Trentham  to  these  three  quartering  will  be  explained  on  referring 
to  the  Trentham  pedigree,  Harl.  MSS.,  1,077,  f.  15b,  and  1,173,  f.  14b. 


ELVASTON.  203 

"  Qui  Nobilissimo  Stemmate  non  frustra  oriundus, 
Tantam  farailiae  propriis  Virtutibus  coluit  Nobilitatem : 
Ingenii  Solertia  Affectuum  temperans  motus  : 
Mentis  robore  Spectatissimus. 

Qui  Publicis  Muneribus  in  Comitatu  Derbiensi  functus, 
Prudenter  consoluit  Honori,  Integritate  inconcussa, 
Fidelem  Regi,  et  strennuam  Patrise,  Senatui  ascitus 
Navavit  operam. 

Cujus  Patrocinium  defensi,  Hospitalitatem  refecti, 
Muuificientiam  donati  sensemnt  Pauperes.     Cujus 
Amicitiam,  et  Consuetudinem  gratissimam 
Nobiliorum  Optimi  coluere. 
Johannes  Stanhope,  Eques  Auratus, 
Sui  apud  omnes  relicto  Desiderio, 
Perplacide  secundum  Christi  Redemptoris 
Adventum  expectans  requiescit. 
Obiit  Anno  Domini  1638 :  astatis  suse. 
Ex  priore  Conjuge  Olivia,  Filia  et  Harede 
Edvardi  Berrisford,  de  Berrisford  In  Comitatu 
Staffordise,  unicam  habuit  Natam :  quse 
Carolo  Cottono  Armigero  nupsit,  et  ex  Conjuge 
Maria,  Filia  Johannis  Radcliffe  de  Oatsal,  in 
Comitatu  Lancastrise  Militis  (quam  superstitem 
Reliquit)  Septem  Filios,  et  tres  Filias  suscepit.  Ex 
Quibus  duos  Filios  et  Filiam,  Johannem,  Thomam,  et 
Franciscam,  infantes  amisit,  Vivis  adhuc 
Johanne,  Cromwello,  Radclyffo,  Byrono, 
Alexandro,  Elizabetha,  et  Anna. 
Hoc  Viro  Charissimo  Amoris  Monumentum 
Maria  Foemina  selectissima,  eademque  Conpix 
Masstissima,  consecravit, 

Hoc  Proavi  Monumentum  qualicunque  temporis  injuria  in  Fragmenta 
Dissipatum,  restituit  Carolus  Stanhope  Anno  Domini  1731." 

The  effigy  of  Sir  John  Stanhope,  in  white  marble,  is  represented 
in  a  half-recumbent  position.  This  tomb,  which  was  grievously 
mutilated  during  the  Commonwealth,  was  restored,  as  is  stated  in 
the  inscription,  by  Charles  Stanhope,  great-grandson  of  Sir  John. 
It  is  protected  by  stout  iron  railings ;  but  the  effigy  now  lacks  the 
sword  and  part  of  the  nose,  owing,  apparently,  to  the  insufficient 
character  of  the  repairs.  Of  the  conduct  of  the  Parliamentarians 
at  Elvaston  we  possess  two  accounts  : — 

"  He  (Sir  John  Gell)  pursued  his  malice  to  Sir  John  Stanhope  with  such 
barbarism  after  his  death,  that,  pretending  to  search  for  arms  and  plate,  he 
came  into  the  church,  and  defaced  the  monument  that  cost  six  hundred  pounds, 
breaking  of  the  nose  and  other  parts  of  it ;  he  digged  up  a  garden  of  flowers,  the 
only  delight  of  his  widow,  upon  the  same  pretence ;  and  thus  woo'd  that  widow 
who  was,  by  all  the  world,  believed  to  be  the  most  affectionate  and  prudent  of 
woman-kind;  deluded  by  his  hypocrisies,  consented  to  marry  him,  and  found  that 
was  the  utmost  point  to  which  he  could  carry  his  revenge,  his  future  carriage 
making  it  apparent,  that  he  sought  her  for  nothing  else  but  to  destroy  the  glory 
of  her  husband  and  his  house."* 

*  Life  of  Colonel  Hutchinson,  p.  107. 


204  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

"At  Elvaston  in  Derbyshire,  about  this  time  (January  1612),  Sir  John  Gell's 
Souldiers  (after  the  Plunder  of  the  Lady  Stanhope's  House)  demolished  a  Costly 
Monument,  newly  made  for  Sir  John  Stanhope ;  entred  the  Vault,  wherein  many 
of  his  Ancestors  lay  Interred ;  and  Triumphing  over  the  Dead,  thrust  their 
Swords  into  the  Coffins."* 

The  four  sons  of  John  Stanhope,  of  Elvaston,  grandson  of  Sir 
John  Stanhope  of  this  monument,  were — John,  who  died  young ; 
Thomas,  who  succeeded  to  the  estates,  but  died  without  issue  in 
1780;  Charles,  who  succeeded  his  brother,  but  also  died  issueless  ; 
and  William,  the  heir  of  his  brother  Charles,  who  was  created  Earl 
of  Harrington  in  1729. 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  monument  to  Charles, 
third  Earl  of  Harrington,  1829.  The  basement  of  the  tower  is 
separated  from  the  church  by  a  carved  oak  screen,  on  which  is 
inscribed: — "Voluntary  memorial  to  Charles,  fourth  Earl  of  Har- 
rington, born  A.D.  1779,  died  March  3d,  1851."  The  east  window 
of  the  chancel  is  filled  witli  Munich  glass  to  the  memory  of  Jane, 
Countess  of  Harrington,  1854.  On  the  south  side  of  the  chancel 
is  a  beautifully-executed  recumbent  figure,  by  Westmacott,  of 
Algernon  Russell  Gayleard  Stanhope,  who  died  in  1847,  aged  nine 
years.  Within  the  Stanhope  pew,  at  the  east  end  of  the  south 
aisle,  is  the  marble  effigy  of  Leicester  Fitzgerald  Charles,  fifth  Earl 
of  Harrington,  who  died  in  1862.  Against  the  north  chanoel  wall 
is  a  large  brass  of  Seymour  Sydney  Hyde,  sixth  Earl  of 
Harrington,  in  academicals.  He  died  in  1866.  before  attaining 
his  majority. 

An  ornamental  stone  tablet,  with  the  date  "1821"  at  the  top, 
against  the  north  wall  of  the  nave,  has  the  following  inscription  : — 

"William  Piggen  Cittizen  and  Plaisterer  of  London  dyed  the  Vth  Day  of  lune 
A°  1621  who  by  will  gave  2501'  to  buy  lands.  And  the  profitts  thereof  yearely 
to  be  distributed  amongst  the  poore  of  the  three  townes  belonging  to  this  parish 
of  Elvason  by  the  churchwardens  &  some  of  his  nearest  kindred  here  inhabiting 
&  x11  more  hee  gave  as  a  stocke  forever  &  the  yearely  profltts  thereof  to  remaine 
to  the  disposers  of  the  said  poores  mony  to  be  spent  on  a  drincking  att  the 
distributing  thereof  ;  withall  wch  mony  there  is  a  howse  &  land  boughte  in  divers 
feoffees  names  scituate  in  the  towne  and  parish  of  Spoonedon  in  this  couutye 
of  Darbye." 

To  this  inscription  is  added  one  stating  that  this  estate  was  sold 
in  1821,  and  the  money  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  another  estate 
at  Cossington,  in  Leicestershire. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  chancel  arch,  on  a  brass  plate  is  a 
joint  bequest  to  the  poor  of  Askwell,  Elvaston,  and  S.  Peter's, 

*  Dugdale's  Late  Troubles  in  England,  p.  559. 


ELVASTON.  205 

Derby,  by  "Elizabeth  Wilcocks,  sometyme  servant  uiito  the  right 
worshipful  Sir  John  Stanhope,  of  Elvaston,"  dated  1648.  It  is  a 
facsimile  of  the  plate  already  given  in  our  account  of  S.  Peter's 
Church. 

When  Mr.  Eeynolds  visited  this  church,  August  23rd,  1773,  he 
noticed  a  large  paver  of  alabaster  at  the  entrance  to  the  chantry 
in  the  north  aisle,  and  several  smaller  ones  ;  but  the  inscriptions 
were  all  illegible.  In  the  south  chancel  window  was  the  letter 
« rp »  Qn  a  iozenge>  of  the  basement  of  the  tower  he  then 
wrote : — "  The  Eingers  stand  to  ring  upon  a  chamber  floor,  and 
upon  the  ground  floor  under  it  is  much  dirt  and  rubbish  and  frag- 
ments of  broken  Images  and  other  ornaments  of  Alabaster,  said  to 
be  the  reliques  of  the  1st  monument  to  S11  John  Stanhope  Knt. 
before  mentd,  which  being  gone  to  decay,  the  present  one  was 
erected  in  1731,  as  the  inscription  testifies."  * 

The  registers  begin  with  the  year  1662,  and  are  fairly  perfect 
from  that  date  downwards.  They  do  not  contain  any  entries  of 
special  interest. 

•  Add.  MSS.,  6,071,  ff.  50-55. 


206  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 


of 


|CKBROOK,  though  separated  by  the  river  Derwent  from 
Elvaston,  was  only  a  chapelry  of  the  latter  until  post- 
Keformation  times.  Its  tithes  were  appropriated  to  the 
monastery  of  Shelford,  and  the  appointment  of  the  chaplain  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  vicar  of  Elvaston.  The  chancel  was  kept 
in  repair  and  the  ornaments  supplied  by  the  priory  ;  but  the 
inhabitants  had  to  keep  the  nave  in  repair,  and  also  to  contribute 
to  the  repair  of  the  parish  church  of  Elvaston. 
Dodsworth's  MSS.  contain  the  following  record: — 

"  The  inhabitants  of  Elvaston  and  Ockbrook  were  formerly  required  by  mutual 
agreement  to  brew  four  ales,  and  every  ale  of  one  quarter  of  malt,  and  at  their 
own  costs  and  charges,  betwixt  this  and  the  feast  of  St  John  the  Baptist  next 
coming.  And  every  inhabitant  of  Ockbrook  shall  be  at  the  several  ales,  and  every 
husband  and  wife  were  to  pay  twopence,  every  cottager  one  penny,  and  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  said  towns  of  Elvaston,  Thurlaston,  and  Ambaston,  shall  brew 
eight  Ales  betwixt  this  and  the  feast  of  St  John  the  Baptist,  at  which  ales,  and 
every  one  of  them,  the  inhabitants  shall  come  and  pay  as  before  rehearsed,  who, 
if  he  be  away  at  one  ale  to  pay  the  t'oder  ale  for  both,  or  else  to  send  his 
money.  And  the  inhabitants  of  Ockbrook  shall  carry  all  manner  of  tymber,  being 
in  the  Dale  wood  now  felled,  that  the  said  priest  (?)  chyrch  of  the  said  towns  of 
Elvaston,  Thurlaston,  and  Ambaston  shall  occupy  to  the  use  of  the  said  church."* 

The  Commissioners  who  drew  up  the  inventory  of  Church  Goods, 
6  Edward  VI.,  thus  report  of  Ockbrook : — 

"  Okbroke,  Oct.  5.    Wm  Remyngton  Curett. 

j  chalys  with  a  patten  of  sylver  parcell  gylt — ij  bells  in  the  steppell — ij  hand 
bells — j  sacryng  bell — j  sants  bell — ij  vestments  j  of  whytt  furyng  &  tother 
furyng  in  Apys — ij  albes — j  ames — j  corporas  checte  (chequy) — j  coope  of  say  rede 
&  blew — ij  awter  clothes — ij  towelles— j  surples — j  canabey — j  pyx  of  lateu — ij 
cruetts  of  putter — j  crosse  of  wod  covered  with  laten." 

Ockbrook  was  probably  considered  a  separate  vicarage  soon  after 
the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries ;  but  the  earliest  date  at  which 
we  have  found  any  record  of  the  vicarage  is  in  1620,  when  an 
institution  occurs  in  the  episcopal  registers. t  The  following  list 

*  Bodleian  Library,  Dodsworth's  MSS.,  vol.  cxlviii.,  p.  97,  as  quoted  in  Glover's 
Derbyshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  262.  For  an  explanation  of  these  "Church  Ales"  see  the 
previous  account  of  All  Saints',  Derby. 

f  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers.,  vol.  xvi.,  f .  13.  This  benefice  is  erroneously  termed 
by  Lysous,  p.  225,  "  a  donative  curacy,"  as  is  sufficiently  disproved  by  the  fact  of 
institutions  being  made  from  this  date  downwards  by  the  Bishop. 


OCKBROOK.  207 

of  vicars  is  taken  from  those  registers,  supplemented  by  the  returns 

of  the   Augmentation  Office  : — 
.  Roger  Blith. 

1620.  John  Wright;  patron,  Lord  Philip  Stanhope.      On  the  deprivation  of  R.  B. 

1630.  Thomas  Medeley;  patron,  Lord  Philip  Stanhope.      On  the  death  of  J.  W. 

1650.  The  Parliamentary  Returns  of  this  year  say  that — "  Okbroke  is  a  viccaridge 
really  worth  twenty  marks  per  annum  a  small  parish  fitt  to  be  united  to 
Spondon  it  lying  neare.  Mr.  William  Bennett  vicar,  of  scandalous  life." 

1694.  Stephen  Gronginett;  patron,  the  Bishop,  by  lapse  of  time. 

1733.  John  Nathaniel  Bate;  patron,  Bache  Thornhill. 

1734.  William  Greaves ;  patron,  Bache  Thornhill. 

1765.  Joseph  Collier;  patron,  Dame  Mary  Lake.    On  the  death  of  W.  G. 
1807.  William  Pares;  patron,  Thomas  Pares.    On  the  death  of  J.  C. 
1810.  George  Metcalfe;  patron,  Thomas  Pares.     On  the  death  of  W.  P. 
1816.  Samuel  Hey;  patron,  Thomas  Pares.     On  the  resignation  of  G.  M. 
1852.  Melville  Home  Scott;  patron,  Thomas  Pares.    On  the  death  of  S.  H. 
1872.  George  Wood  Henry  Taylor;  patron,  Thomas  H.  Pares.     On    the   resig- 
nation of  M.  H.  S. 

1875.  John  Wilson;  patron,  Thomas  H.  Pares.     On  the  resignation  of  G.  W.  H.  T. 
1877.  Lewis  Lewis;  patron,  Thomas  H.  Pares.    On  the  death  of  J.  W. 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  consists  of  a  wide 
nave,  chancel,  and  tower  surmounted  by  a  low  spire  at  the  west 
end.  That  there  was  a  chapel  here  in  the  twelfth  century, 
possessing  rights  of  baptism,  is  proved  by  the  old  Norman  font, 
which  is  now  standing  in  the  porch,  a  new  font  having  been 
placed  in  the  church  in  1878,  to  the  memory  of  the  late  vicar. 
It  is  28  in.  in  diameter,  and  stands  24  in.  high.  It  is  circular, 
and  carved  with  interlacing  arcade  work,  after  the  fashion  of  the 
one  at  Somersall  Herbert.*  The  drain  is  at  one  side,  instead  of 
being  in  the  centre. 

The  small  tower,  under  which  is  the  chief  entrance  to  the  church 
as  now  constructed,  is  an  interesting  example  of  the  transition 
from  the  Norman  style  to  the  Early  English,  temp.  Henry  II. 
The  broached  octagon  spire  is  of  later  date — probably  of  the  time 
of  Edward  I. 

The  large  square  chancel,  with  a  brick  vestry  on  the  north  side, 
and  the  family  pew  of  Hopwell  Hall  over  it,  bears  the  year 
"MDCCCIII"  above  the  east  window,  and  is  of  the  detestable  style 
that  might  be  expected  from  that  date.  A  tablet  at  the  west  end 
of  the  nave  states  that  the  church  was  enlarged  in  1835,  when  218 
additional  sittings  were  gained;  so  we  conclude  that  this  is  the  date 
of  the  present  debased  nave.  A  view  of  this  church,  drawn  about 
1825  by  Mr.  Meynell,  shows  a  south  porch  to  the  nave  between 
two  two-light  square-headed  windows  of  Perpendicular  date.  There 
was  also  a  two-light  pointed  Decorated  window  nearer  the  chancel. 

*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  Plate  XVII. 


208  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

There  is  a  handsomely-carved  screen  of  dark  oak,  separating  the 
chancel  from  the  nave,  and  there  are  quire  stalls  of  the  same  style 
and  date — circa  1500.  The  screen  has  heen,  unfortunately,  turned 
the  wrong  way;  so  that  the  hest  of  the  carving  faces  the  east. 
This  woodwork  was  brought  from  Wigston's  Hospital,  in  Leicester, 
about  1810,  by  Mr.  Pares. 

In  the  east  window  of  the  chancel  is  some  old  sixteenth  century 
glass,  representing  the  four  Evangelists  and  their  emblems,  which 
was  also  brought  here  from  the  same  hospital.*  The  glass  was  then 
restored  after  a  poor  fashion,  the  modern  parts  being  discernible  at 
a  glance.  In  Mr.  Meynell's  notes  on  this  church,  he  describes  a 
figure  of  S.  Peter  in  the  upper  part  of  the  south  chancel  window; 
"but  the  head  was  broken  at  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Pares."  "In  a 
compartment  below,  King  Hanun  ordering  the  beards  to  be  shaved 
and  the  skirts  to  be  cut  off.  Another  is  Elisha  talking  to  the 
great  man.  In  a  circle  below  is  Our  Saviour  bearing  the  Cross. 
In  another  the  battle  of  the  Amalekites.  In  two  squares  below, 
Solomon's  Judgment,  and  Balaam  and  his  ass."  This  glass  from 
the  south  window  has  all  disappeared  during  the  last  few  years. 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  nave  is  a  monument  to  Rev.  Henry 
Swindell — who  died  29th  May,  1801,  aged  74 — with  a  medallion 
portrait.  The  epitaph  states  : — 

"  So  lowly  He,  neat  Benefice  declin'd, 

A  gen'ral  Friend  no  Slave  to  human  kind, 
Whilst  his  pure  Soul  on  Anchor  Hope  reclin'd." 

Against  the  south  wall  is  a  tablet  to  Eev.  Samuel  Hey,  in 
memory  of  his  forty-three  years'  ministry.  He  died  in  1852, 
aged  72. 

There  are  three  bells  in  the  tower,  thus  inscribed : — 

I.  "  Jhesus  be  our  spede."     The  bell-mark  of  Henry  Oldfield. 

II.  "God    save    the    King,    1664."      The    bell-mark    of    George 
Oldfield. 

III.  "God  save   his  Church,  1653."      The  bell-mark  of  George 
Oldfield. 

The  registers  begin  'in  the  year  1642.  They  are  irregular  from 
1652  to  1669. 

*  For  a  long  account  of  Wigston's  Hospital,  see  Nichols'  Leicestershire,  vol.  i.,  pp. 
471-504.  He  describes  the  four  Evangelists  as  being  in  the  west  window  of  the 
chapel  in  1790,  and  further  states  that  in  the  east  window  there  were  originally  the 
twelve  apostles,  several  being  then  left.  Mention  is  also  made  of  the  stalls  and 
screen  of  oak.  But  in  1807  the  whole  chapel  was  "  repaired,"  after  a  disgraceful 
fashion,  when  the  east  and  west  windows  were  blocked  up,  and  the  fine  old  carving 
discarded.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  good  taste  of  Mr.  Pares  secured  the  best  of 
the  glass  and  wood  work  so  barbarously  ejected. 


allam. 


15 


Kirk 


HE  manor  of  Kirk  Hallam,  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday 
Survey,  pertained  to  Ealph  de  Buron.  No  church  is 
mentioned  as  being  then  extant,  but  one  must  have  been 
founded  shortly  afterwards.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  it  was 
held  by  Sir  Peter  de  Sandiacre,  and  then  successively  by  his  son 
and  grandson,  Sir  Kichard,  and  Sir  John.  Early  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  III.,  soon  after  the  definite  foundation  of  Dale  Abbey,  Sir 
Richard  de  Sandiacre  bestowed  upon  that  monastery  the  whole 
right  of  patronage  of  the  church  of  Kirk  Hallam,  as  well  as  grants 
of  lands  and  tenements.  The  gift  was  confirmed  by  his  son,  John, 
who  at  the  same  time  confirmed,  as  chief  lord,  the  various  bene- 
factions of  lands  at  Kirk  Hallam,  made  by  Ealph  de  Hallam, 
Robert  de  Strelley,  and  Walter  de  Morley.* 

William  Grey,  one  of  the  younger  sons  of  Sir  Henry  Grey,  of 
Turroc  and  Codnor,  married  the  heiress  of  Sandiacre,  circa  1260, 
and  hence  this  branch  of  the  powerful  family  of  Grey  became  lords, 
of  Kirk  Hallam  and  Saudiacre.  Subsequently,  by  marriage  with 
the  heiress  of  Harestan,  Sutton  Scarsdale  also  came  to  the 
Greys,  f  John  Grey  died  4  Henry  IV.  seized  of  the  manors  of 
Sutton  Scarsdale,  Sandiacre,  and  Kirk  Hallam,  of  which  last 
Emeliua,  his  wife,  was  joint  tenant,  and  left  Isabella,  wife  of  John 
Walsh,  and  Alice,  wife  of  John  Leeke,  his  daughters  and  heirs.J 

*  Dale  Chartulary,  Cott.  MSS.,  Vesp.  E.  xxvi.,  ff.  48b,  49.  See  appendix  No.  X. 
The  charters  relative  to  Kirk  Hallarn  exteud  from  f.  43  to  f.  59.  The  De  Saiidiacres 
were  also  large  doiiors  of  lands  on  the  manor  from  which  they  took  their  name, 
ff.  84-94. 

f  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  367. 

I  luq.  post.  Mort.,  4  Hen.  IV.,  No.  I. 


212  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

Sir  John  Leeke,  great  grandson  of  the  last-named  Leeke,  suffered 
a  common  recovery  of  these  three  manors,  Easter  term,  5  Henry 
VIII.* 

Though  the  original  gift  of  the  church  of  Kirk  Hallatn  to  the 
monastery  of  Dale,  was  only  the  advowson  of  the  rectory,  it  seems 
that  they  speedily  ohtaiued  leave  to  appropriate  the  great  tithes 
and  ordain  a  vicarage.  We  know  that  it  was  a  vicarage  in  1298. 
There  is  no  mention  of  this  church  in  Pope  Nicholas'  Taxation 
Roll,  1291,  and  it  seems  fair  to  assume  that  the  Premonstratensian 
canons,  then  special  favourites  at  Rome,  had  procured  its  exemp- 
tion from  papal  tenths  and  first  fruits.  The  appropriated  rectory 
of  Kirk  Hallam  was  valued  by  the  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry 
VIII.)  at  the  annual  income  of  £5  19s.  lid.,  out  of  which  5s. 
was  due  to  divers  persons,  and  40s.  to  the  vicar  of  Kirk  Hallam. 
To  this  rectory,  according  to  the  Valor,  was  attached  the  cure  of 
the  chapel  of  S.  Margaret  within  the  monastery  of  Dale.  We 
are  inclined  to  think  that  this  was  the  large  fifteenth  century 
chapel,  on  the  east  of  the  north  transept  of  the  conventual 
church,  the  ground  plan  and  altar  of  which  have  just  (October, 
1878)  been  exposed.  Probably  one  particular  canon  received  the 
emoluments  of  this  rectory,  and  on  him  devolved  the  saying  of 
mass  at  S.  Margaret's  altar. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  Henry  VIII.  granted 
the  rectorial  tithes  to  Sir  Francis  Leeke,  who  already  held  the 
manor,  and  also  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage.  The  rectory  was 
only  then  of  the  small  value  of  £2  13s.  4d.,  out  of  which  he 
was  bound  to  furnish  a  pension  to  the  vicar  of  40s.,  and  also 
to  discharge  the  procurations  and  synodals,  estimated  at  7s.  6d., 
so  that  the  clear  annual  value  to  Sir  F.  Leeke  was  only  5s.  lOd. 

The  following  is  the  return  of  the  Church  Goods  Commissioners, 
6  Edward  VI. :— 

"  Kirkhalome.    Eoger  Page  clerke. 

j  chalys  of  silver  parcell  guylt — j  corporas  clothe — iij  bells  in  the  steple — j 
crosse  of  laten — ij  cruetts  of  pewter — iiij  vestments  whei-eof  j  of  whyte  chamlett, 
j  of  grene  cruel,  j  of  grene  sylke,  j  of  pyde  [i.e.  pied,  motley]  crule — j  coope  of 
grene  crule — j  payre  of  censors  of  laten — ij  albes — ij  alter  clothes — j  towell." 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners,  of  1650,  report  of  this  place 
that  it  "is  a  viccaridge  worth  eight  pounds  per  annum  a  small 
parish  and  near  to  Ilkestone  may  be  couveuientlye  united  to 
Ilkestone.  Mapperley  is  a  member  and  lyes  remote  and  maye  be 
united  to  West  Hallam." 

*  Add.  MSS.,  6,671  f.  449. 


KIRK    HALLAM.  213 

The  large  estates  of  the  Leeke  family  were  sold  after  the  death 
of  Nicholas  Leeke,  Earl  of  Scarsdale,  in  1736.  Since  then  the 
manor  and  advowson  of  the  vicarage  have  been  in  the  hands  of 
the  Newdigates.  ' 

In  1779,  a  suit  was  instituted  by  the  impropriate  rector  of  Kirk 
Hallam,  respecting  the  tithes  of  Mapperley.  It  was  referred  to 
arbitration,  and  it  was  decided  that  all  predial  tithes  in  Map- 
perley, except  hay,  pertained  to  the  impropriator  ;  but  that  the 
tithe  hay,  or  a  modus  of  17s.  6d.,  belonged  to  the  vicar.  * 

The  following  list  of  vicars  is  chiefly  taken  from  the  Episcopal 
Kegisters  at  Lichfield.  Neither  these  registers  nor  the  returns  of 
the  First  Fruits  Office  give  any  institutions  (that  we  could  find) 
between  1569  and  1801 — which  we  imagine  to  have  arisen  from 
this  vicarage  being  almost  invariably  held  during  that  period  with 
that  of  Ilkeston. 

1298.  Simon  de  Radeford,  canon  of  Dale. 

1317.  Henry  de  Nottingham. 

1322.  Thomas  de  Kylborn,  cauon  of  Dale.      On  the  resignation  of  Thomas  (?)  de 

Nottingham. 

1327.  Robert  de  Roycestre,  canon  of  Dale.    On  the  death  of  T.  de  K. 
1329.  Geoffrey  de  Bysegge,  canon  of  Dale.    On  the  death  of  B.  de  E. 
1335.  Henry  de  Cruch,  canon  of  Dale.     On  the  resignation  of  G.  de  B. 
1349.  Richard  de  Bernesley.     On  the  death  of  H.  de  C. 

1353.  William  de  London.     On  the  death  of  E.  de  B. 
lb,39.  Walter  de  Wynkeborn. 

1354.  Hugo  de  Claypole.    On  the  death  of  W.  de  L. 

1380.  Robert  de  Sallowe,  canon  of  Dale.     On  the  resignation  of  W.  de  W. 
1418.  John  Stanley. 

1428.  Robert  Alastre,  canon  of  Dale.     On  the  death  of  J.  S. 
1442.  Richard  Nottingham,  canon  of  Dale.     On  the  death  of  E.  A. 
1458.  John  Monyasshe,  canon  of  Dale.    On  the  resignation  of  E.  N. 
1535.  Roger  Page.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 

1569.  Richard  Scyrdan  (?) ;  patron,  Sir  Francis  Leeke.     On  the  death  of  E.  P. 
*  »  *  *  # 

.  George  Allen. 
1801.  Thomas  Wilkinson ;  patron,  Francis  Newdigate,  of  Wootton.    On  the  death 

of  G-.  A. 

1841.  Pelly  Parker;  patron,  Francis  Newdigate.     On  the  death  of  T.  W. 
1849.  Charles  John  Newdigate ;  patron,  Francis  Newdigate.      On  the  resignation 

of  P.  P. 
1856.  Alfred    Newdigate ;    patron,    Francis  Newdigate.      On    the    resignation    of 

C.  J.  N. 
1875.  Albert  Eubule  Evans;  patron,  Francis  W.  Newdigate.1    On  the  resignation 

of  A.  N. 

The  ancient  fabric  has  undergone  several  alterations  during 
the  past  century.  In  1778,  a  petition  was  presented  to  Quarter 
Sessions,  asking  for  a  Brief  to  obtain  funds  for  its  repair.  It  is 

*  Wood's  Exchequer  Decrees,  vol.  iv.,  p.  321. 


214  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

therein  stated  that  the  "parish  church  is  a  very  ancient  structure 
and  greatly  decayed,  and  notwithstanding  the  Inhabitants  have, 
from  time  to  time,  laid  out  several  considerable  sums  of  money  in 
repairing  and  supporting  the  same,  yet  it  is  still  ruinous,  inso- 
much as  to  make  it  necessary  either  to  take  down  and  rebuild  the 
said  church,  or  to  repair  it  in  such  a  manner  that  the  parishioners 
may  with  safety  assemble  therein  for  the  publick  worship  of 
Almighty  God."  William  Harrison,  "  an  able  and  experienced 
architect,"  estimated  the  cost  of  taking  the  church  down  and 
rebuilding  it,  at  £1,028.  Fortunately,  although  the  Brief  was 
obtained,  it  did  not  realise  nearly  enough  for  a  new  church  ;  and 
the  money  was  expended  in  substantially  repairing  the  old  fabric, 
and  in  repaving  and  re-seating  it  throughout.  The  pews  were 
painted  white.  The  church  was  well  restored  by  Eev.  C.  J. 
Newdigate,  soon  after  his  presentation  to  the  vicarage,  when  the 
present  comely  porch  was  added,  the  roofs  repaired,  the  chancel 
arch  put  up,  and  the  whole  of  the  unsightly  fittings  of  the  last 
century  replaced  with  suitable  wood-work. 

The  church,  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  is  a  small  building,  consisting 
only  of  chancel  nave,  and  low  embattled  tower  at  the  west.  The 
following  are  the  dimensions  given  by  Mr.  Kawlins,  who  visited 
this  church  in  1818:  —  nave,  44  ft.  6  in.  by  22  ft.  1  in.;  chancel, 
26  ft.  8  in.  by  18  ft.  1  in.  On  each  side  of  the  south  entrance 
is  built  in  a  piece  of  Norman  beak-head  moulding,  which  has 
formed  part  of  an  old  chancel  arch. 

The  font  seems  to  be  the  only  other  relic  of  the  first  church 
built  upon  this  site.  It  is  a  good  example  of  Norman  work  of  the 
reign  of  either  Henry  I.  or  Stephen.  It  is  26^  in.  in  diameter, 
and  is  22  in.  high  ;  the  outer  circumference  is  ornamented  with 
an  interlaced  arcade,  and  at  the  base  of  each  arch  is  an  unusual 
circular  device  (Plate  X).  The  font  rests  on  a  base  of  Early 
English  mouldings.  The  east  chancel  window  is  a  three-light  one 
of  Decorated  design ;  the  tracery  is  new,  but  the  framework  of  the 
window  old.  There  are  two  square-headed  two-light  windows  of 
Perpendicular  date  on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel,  and  three 
similar  ones  on  the  south  side  of  the  nave.  The  two  on  the  north 
side  of  the  nave  are  modern.  The  tower  is  a  plain  example  of 
late  Perpendicular  work.  There  is  no  west  doorway,  but  a  square- 
headed  two-light  window  exists. 

About  eight  feet  from  the  floor,  on  each  side  of  the  east  window 
of  the  chancel,  is  a  bracket  in  good  condition.  In  the  south  chancel 


PLATE    x 


KIRK    HALLAM.  215 

wall,  but  at  a  very  low  level,  are  three  shallow  sedilia  recesses ; 
and  beyond  them  is  a  piscina,  remarkable,  if  not  unique,  for  the 
diminutive  niches  on  each  side  of  it — probably  intended  for  the 
cruets  (Plate  XII.) 

In  the  chancel  are  monuments  to  Francis  Newdigate,  of  Notting- 
ham, 1764,  and  to  Francis  Stead,  of  the  same  place,  1763. 

On  a  brass  plate,  at  the  west  end  of  the  nave,  is  inscribed : — 

"  As  here  I  am  so  let  me  lie, 

Till  Christ  shall  come  and  call  to  me 
Rise  up  and  stand  before  my  face 
That  I  and  you  may  now  embrace. 
Which  that  I  hope  and  long  to  see 
My  dearest  Lord  who  dy'd  for  me, 
And  at  his  coming  hope  to  have 
A  joyful  rising  from  the  Grave. 
Which  God  of  his  infinite  Good 
ness  of  mercy  grant  to  me.  Amen. 
Patrick  Eice,  aged  72. 
1766." 

Mr.  Eawlins  says: — "When  I  visited  this  church  on  September 
3d  1818,  the  clerk's  name  was  James  Eice.  He  informed  me 
that  he  was  great-grandson  to  the  above  Patrick  Eice,  who  had 
had  the  said  epitaph  prepared  two  years  before  he  died,  having 
obtained  it  in  the  course  of  his  excursions  from  his  village.  He 
also  told  me  that  this  he  had  from  his  own  father,  who  said  that 
his  grandsire  had  his  coffin  made  at  the  same  time,  and  that  it 
always  stood  behind  his  bed.  It  was  lined  with  flannel,  and  he 
used  to  keep  his  better-day's  clothes  in  it." 

When  Bassano  visited  this  church,  in  1710,  he  noted  in  one 
of  the  south  windows,  the  arms  of  Burdett  (az.,  two  bars,  or), 
and  also  the  same  coat  varied  with  three  mullets  in  chief. 

In  the  churchyard,  near  to  the  east  wall  of  the  chancel,  stands 
an  upright  gravestone  to  the  memory  of  Samuel  Cleater,  who  died 
May  1st,  1811,  aged  65.  The  two-lined  epitaph  has  such  a 
remarkably  sturdy  ring  about  it,  that  it  deserves  to  be  rescued 
from  oblivion  :— 

"True  to  his  King,  his  Country  was  his  glory, 
When  Bony  won,  he  said  it  was  a  story." 

The  tower  contains  three  bells,  thus  inscribed  : — 

I.  "Jesus,"  in  Lombardic  capital  letters,  and  on  the   waist  the 
initials  H.  D. 

II.  "  God    save    the    King,    1666.''      The   bell-mark   of    George 
Oldfield. 


216  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

III.     Four   Lorabardic   letters    S,   alternating   with    four    crosses. 
We    have   noted   similar  bells   at  Ashbourn,    Calke,  and   Kniveton. 
The  registers  only  begin  in  the   year  1700. 


Alexander  Stavenby,  Bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield,  1224-40, 
sanctioned  an  arrangement  between  the  abbot  of  Dale,  as  patron 
and  rector  of  Kirk  Hallam,  and  Hugh  de  Strelley  and  Matilda, 
his  wife,  by  which  the  latter  were  permitted  to  establish  a  chapel 
within  the  enclosure  (intra  septa)  of  their  mansion  at  MAPPEKLEY, 
in  which  Mass  might  be  celebrated,  when  they  or  either  of  them 
were  present,  by  a  chaplain  supported  at  their  charge  ;  which 
chaplain  should  do  fealty  to  the  vicar  of  Kirk  Hallam.  No 
marriages  were  to  be  allowed  in  the  chapel,  nor  should  any 
other  of  the  parishioners  attend,  except  the  family  of  Hugh 
and  Matilda,  unless  with  the  consent  of  the  vicar.* 

A  distinct  church,  dedicated  to  the  Holy  Trinity,  was  built  at 
Mapperley  in  1851.  The  township  was  separated  from  Kirk 
Hallam,  and  formed  into  an  ecclesiastical  parish  in  1870.  The 
vicarage  is  in  the  patronage  of  Colonel  Newdigate. 

*  Cott.  MSS.,  Vesp.  E.  xxvi.,  f.  47b. 


fallen!* 


j|EST  HALLAM  was  one  of  the  fifty-four  lordships  conferred 
upon  Gilbert  de  Gant,  son  of  Baldwin,  Earl  of  Flanders, 
by  his  uncle,  William  the  Conqueror.  It  subsequently 
carne  to  be  regarded  as  an  appendage  of  the  manor  of  Newark, 
Notts.,  which  was  given  to  the  bishopric  of  Lincoln  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  I.  In  short,  up  to  the  abolition  of  feudal  tenures  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  the  lords  of  the  manor  of  West  Hallam 
always  rendered  service  to  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln.*  Towards  the 
close  of  the  twelfth  century,  we  find  that  the  manor  was  held  of 
the  Bishop'Jby  the  family  of  Cromwell,  of  Cromwell,  Notts.  Ealph 
de  Cromwell,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  had  the  right  of  free 
warren  conferred  upon  him  over  his  lordships  of  Cromwell  and 
West  Hallam  — •  a  right  which  his  grandson  Ealph  successfully 
defended  in  the  reign  of  Edward  I. 

There  is  no  mention  of  a  church  here  at  the  time  of  the 
Domesday  Survey,  and  it  appears  most  probable  that  one  was  first 
erected  here  by  the  De  Cromwells.  At  all  events  they  held  the 
advowson  of  the  rectory  from  the  earliest  time  of  any  historic 
mention  of  the  church.  We  find  Sir  Ralph  de  Cromwell  patron 
in  the  reign  of  Edward  II.,  and  his  son,  of  the  same  name,  who 
married  Avicia,  daughter  of  Sir  Eoger  Beler,  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  III.  Their  son,  Ealph,  Lord  Cromwell,  died  April  27th, 
1399,  seized  of  the  manor  and  advowson  of  West  Hallam.+  His 
wife  Matilda,  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Bernake,  and  Lady 

*  Rot.  Chart.,  41  Hen.  III.,  memb.  3.  Quo  Warranto  Rolls,  Edw.  I.  Ralph  de 
Cromwell  is  described,  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  III.,  as  holding  West  Hallam,  by  the 
service  of  a  fifth  part  of  a  knight's  fee,  of  the  Bishop  of  LJncoln.  Testa  de  Nevill, 
pp.  4,  8b,  12b. 

t  Inq.  post.  Mort.,  22  Ric   II.,  No.  13. 


220  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

of  Tattesliall,    held   this   property   in   dower,    aud   died   April    10th, 
1419,  seized  of  the  advowsou  of  the  rectory,  and  of  three  parts  of 
the  manor.*      Her    son    Ralph    had    died   in   her  lifetime ;    hut  her 
grandson,   Ralph   Lord  Cromwell,  then  aged   26,    succeeded    to  the 
estate.      He    died    without  issue    in    1455.      His  sister  and  heiress, 
Matilda,  had  married   Sir  Richard  Stanhope;   and  their  son  having 
died  young,   this   estate   passed   to    their   daughter   Joan,   who   had 
married  Sir  Humphrey  Bourchier,    Lord  Cromwell,    in  right  of   his 
wife.f      On   the   death    of    Sir    Humphrey    Bourchier,    and    of    her 
second  husband,   Robert  Ratcliff  (who  also  took  the   title    of  Lord 
Cromwell),  without  issue,  the  manor  and  advowson  were  purchased 
by    Thomas    Powtrell,    a    younger    son    of    the    ancient    family    of 
Powtrells,   of   Thrumpton,    Nottinghamshire ;   he  held   them   of   the 
Bishop  of   Lincoln,   as  of  his  castle  of  Newark.  J     He  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  and  heir,  John  Powtrell,  who  by  Margaret,  daughter  and 
co-heiress  of  John  Strelley,  had  issue   Thomas,  his  heir  ;    Nicholas, 
justice  of  the  Common  Bench  ;    and  William,  in  holy  orders,  who 
was   presented   by  his   father   to    the    rectory    of    West   Hallam    in 
1538.      For    their    adherence    to   the    Roman    Catholic    faith,    the 
Powtrells     suffered     grievously,     both     from     repeated     fines     and 
imprisonment,   in   the   reign   of  Elizabeth,    and    these   persecutions 
continued   at   intervals    so   long   as   the  family    were   extant.       The 
Hall  at  West  Hallam  hecame  a  famous  hiding  place  of  the  persecu- 
ted priests,  in  the  reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  James  I.§     It  more  than 
once   afforded   shelter   to   Father    Campion   when   on   his  journeys. 
John  Powtrell  died  in  1545,  and  his  sou  Thomas  had  issue  Walter, 
who    married     Cassandra     Shirley.      Walter    Powtrell's    heir     was 
his  son    John,  and  John   was   succeeded   by   his   eldest  son  Henry, 
who  died  in  1666.      Though  technically  possessed  of  the  advowson 
of  West    Hallam    during    this   period,    they    could  not.  as   Roman 
Catholics,  present,  and   we   find   that    the  University  of  Cambridge 
presented    in    1638.  ^f      In    1668,    the    greater    laxity    of    the   times 
seems     to    have    permitted    Anne,    relict    of    Henry    Powtrell,     to 
present ;     and   this    is    the    more    curious,    as    she   was    a    staunch 


*  Inq.  Post  Mort.,  7  Hen.  V.,  No.  72. 

t  See  pedigree  in  Blore's  South  Winfield.  p.  36. 

J  Meynell  MSS. 

§  "  Item  at  Mr.  Powtrell's  house  called  Westhallam  iiij  miles  beyond  Darby,  lieth 
one  Richard  Shovell  an  old  Priest,  and  saith  Mass  there  continually."  List  of 
Recusant  in  Public  Record  Office — Dom.  State  Papers,  Q.  Eliz.  vol.  251,  No.  14. 

*[  By  3  James  I.,  cap.  5,  sect.  13  (confirmed  by  several  later  statutes),  the  church 
patronage  of  Roman  Catholics  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  Oxford  University  for  one 
half  of  England  and  Wales,  and  of  Cambridge  University  for  the  other  half.  Derby- 
shire falls  to  the  share  of  Cambridge, 


WEST    HALLAM.  221 

adherent  of  her  faith,  and  the  daxighter  of  Sir  Henry  Hunloke, 
himself  a  Roman  Catholic  baronet.  After  her  death,  in  1669, 
the  family  mansion  was  occupied  by  William  Powtrell  and  his 
wife  Anne,  widow  of  William  Peke.  William  and  John  Powtrell 
were  the  sons  of  Robert,  a  younger  brother  of  Henry  Powtrell. 

The  waves  of  that  cruel  sham,  the  Titus  Gates  Plot,  spread 
even  to  this  quiet  village.  On  the  night  of  March  16th,  1680, 
Father  George  Busby,  a  relative  of  Mrs.  Powtrell's,  was  seized 
at  their  house  at  West  Hallam,  and  condemned  at  the  Derby 
assizes  to  be  hung,  drawn,  and  quartered,  for  the  simple  crime 
of  being  a  Roman  priest.  After  a  long  imprisonment,  the 
sentence  was  commuted  to  one  of  banishment.  Father  William 
Bentney,  an  old  priest  aged  73,  who  had  been  forty-two  years 
upon  the  mission,  was  apprehended  in  Leicestershire  about  the 
same  time.  Evidence  being  given  of  his  having  celebrated  Mass 
at  West  Hallam  Hall  by  some  apostate  Roman  Catholics,  he  also 
was  condemned  to  death.  The  capital  sentence  was  respited,  but 
after  being  alternately  confined  in  the  gaols  of  Derby  and  Leices- 
ter, he  at  last  died  of  gaol  fever  at  the  latter  town,  in  the  year 
1692. 

Henry  and  Anne  Powtrell  had  seven  daughters,  but  no  son;  and 
Henry,  by  his  will,  left  the  West  Hallam  estate  and  advowson  to 
the  Hunlokes,  providing  his  nephews  John  and  William  had  no 
male  issue.  They  died  childless  in  1683  and  1687  respectively.  The 
Hunlokes,  in  order  to  evade  the  statute  whereby  the  University  of 
Cambridge  would  have  presented,  repeatedly  sold  the  next  presen- 
tation, and  hence  the  multiplicity  of  patrons.  Eventually,  both 
the  manor  and  advowson  were  purchased  by  Francis  Newdigate,  in 
1821,  in  whose  family  they  now  remain. 

The  following  list  of  rectors  and  patrons  is  chiefly  compiled  from 
the  Diocesan  Registers  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office : — 

1322.  Henry,  son  of  William  Orseny  ;  patron,  Eobert  de  Sallowe,*  by  permission 
of  Ralph,  son  of  Sir  Ralph  de  Cromwell,  the  true  patron. 

1331.  Thomas  de  Westhallam;  patron,  Sir  Ralph  de  Cromwell.    On  the  resigna- 
tion of  H.  O. 
.  John  de  Halum. 

1374.  Henry   de   Kirkeby    Lackthorpe  ;    patron,   Ralph   de   Cromwell.     On    the 
resignation  of  J.  de  H. 

*  Robert  de  Sallow  held  one  messuage,  40  acres  of  arable  land,  and  4  acres  of 
meadow  of  the  abbot  of  Dale,  within  the  parish  of  Kirk  Hallam,  as  well  as  other 
property  at  Sandiacre,  Stanton,  Breaston,  Risley,  Spondon,  and  Locko.  He  died 
in,  1336.  Inq.  post  Mort.,  9  Edw.  III.,  No.  32.  Roger  de  Norbury,  Bishop  of 
Coventry  and  Lichfield  1322-59,  visited  this  Chiirch  to  settle  a  dispute  as  to  the 
patronage,  between  the  parishioners  and  Simon  de  Cestria  Pegge's  MSS.  vol.  v., 
f.  190. 


222  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

•  ,>? 

1387.  William   Hikelyng,    rector   of  a  mediety  of    Thetilthorpe,    exchanged    bene- 
fices with  H.  de  K.,  rector  of  West  Hallam ;  patron,  Ralph  de  Cromwell. 
1393.  William  Besant ;  patron,  Ralph  de  Cromwell. 
1396.  Richard    Lay    de    Burton    Overay ;    patron,    Kalph    de    Cromwell,    lord    of 

Tatteshall. 
.  John  Lay. 
1432.  Richard  Halum;   patrons,   Thomas    Chaworth,   kt.,    John   Welcham,   cler., 

and  Norman  Babiugton,  armg.  (as  trustees)      On  the  resignation  of  J.  L. 
1468.  Richard  Halum,    juiir;    patron,    Sir  Humphrey  Bourgchier,   lord  Cromwell. 

On  the  resignation  of  R.  H. 
1473.  John  Offeryngton ;   patrons,  the  trustees  of  the  late  Ralph  Cromwell.     On 

the  death  of  R.  H. 
.  John  Cowper. 

1483.  Robert  Aleyn  ;  patron,  Thomas  Powtrell.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  C. 
(1535).  Richard  Bank.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 

1538.  William  Powtrell;   patron,  John  Powtrell.      On  the  resignation  of  R.  B. 
(1552).  John  Haughton.     Church  Goods  Commissioners. 
(1630).  Henry  Holmes.     Parish  Registers. 
1631.  Edward  Miller;  patron,  the  King,   during  the  minority  of  Henry  Powtrell, 

his  ward. 
1638.  John  Scargill;  patrons,  Richard  Earl  Holland  and  the  Masters  and  Scholars 

of  the  University  of  Cambridge. 
1663.  Robert  Home ;    patron,    John    Flamstead,   of    Little    Hallam,    executor  of 

Edward  Willoughby,  of  Cossall."     On  the  death  of  J.  S. 
1668.  Henry  Greatorex;   patron,  Anna,  relict  of  Henry  Powtrell.      On  the  death 

of  R.  H. 
1716.  Daniel  Greatorex;   patron,  George  Mower  de  Woodseats.      On  the  death  of 

H.  G. 
1724.  Anthony  Raworth ;   patrons,    Rev.    George    Cockayne   and   Mary  his   wife, 

and  William  Gilbert,  yeoman.     On  the  death  of  D.  G. 
1736.  William  Clarke ;  patrons,  Henry  Bourne,  M.D.,  and  Godfrey  Webster,  gent. 

On  the  death  of  A.  R. 

1788.  Thomas  Clarke;   patron,  Sir  T.  G.  Skipwith.     On  the  death  of  W.  C. 
1804.  John  Morewood;   patron,   Clement   Kynnersley,   of    Sutton  Hall.     On  the 

death  of  T.  C. 

1828.  Pelly  Parker;   patron,  Francis  Newdigate.      On  the  death  of  J.  M. 
1849.  Charles  John  Newdigate ;  patron,  Francis  Newdigate.     On  the  resignation 

of   P.  P. 
1876.  John  Adams;   patron,  Francis  W.  Newdigate.     On  the  death  of  C.  J.  N. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edw.  VI.,  thus  report  of 
West  Hallam: — 

"West   Halem.     Sept.  17.     Jo.  Haughton  clerke. 

"  j  chalesse  with  the  paten  off  sylver  &  gylte — ij  crosses,  j  of  coper  &  gylte  with 
the  staffe,  the  other  off  brasse  ungylt — j  pyx  of  coper  uugylte — j  canapye  for  the 
same — iij  Copes — vij  vestments — v  albes  &  amysses  with  stoles  and  phaiiellsf — iiij 
corpraxes — iiij  altare  clothes — iiij  stoolls  in  the  steple — iij  great  bells  &  j  lytle 
bell — j  clocke  goyug  of  j  of  the  bells — ij  hand  bells — a  lectorue  of  coper — j  byble — 
the  Paraphrases  of  Erasmus  upon  the  Gospells  &  also  upon  the  Epistles — the 
booke  of  Comen  prayer  &  mynystracyon  of  the  Sacraments." 

The  Parliamentary  Eeport,  of  1650,  simply  says  of  this  benefice, 
that  it  "  is  parsonage  really  worth  .  fiftye  pounds  per  annum,  Mr. 
John  Scargill,  Incumbent" 

*  Edward  Willoughby  had  probably  bought  the  next  presentation  of  the  Powtrells. 
t  Fanons,  or  maniples. 


WEST    HALL  AM.  223 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Wilfred,  consists  of  nave 
and  aisles,  north  porch,  chancel  with  north  chapel,  and  west  tower. 
These  are  the  dimensions  given  by  Mr.  Eawlins : — Nave,  37  ft.  9  in. 
by  17  ft.  8  in.;  north  aisle,  40  ft.  3  in.  by  10  ft.  2  in. ;  south 
aisle,  39  ft.  2  in.  by  9  ft.  7  in. ;  chancel,  30  ft.  11  in.  by  16  ft.  11  in. 
In  1855  the  fabric  underwent  a  considerable  restoration,  and  it  now 
has  the  pleasant  appearance  of  a  well-used  and  exceptionally  cared- 
for  church.  The  restoration,  both  of  the  exterior  and  interior,  was 
extensive ;  but  when  we  look  at  the  late,  debased,  and  untraceried 
windows  of  the  aisles,  as  shown  in  the  drawings  (circa  1820)  of 
Messrs.  Meynell  and  Eawlins,  it  could  only  be  a  mock  seutimen- 
talism  that  would  affect  to  regret  the  alteration.  Previously,  too, 
the  edifice  contained  high-backed  pews,  whitewashed  walls,  flat 
plaster  ceilings,  and  all  their  accompanying  incongruities.  The 
nave  is  separated  from  the  aisles  by  arcades  of  three  arches  on 
each  side.  They  are  supported  on  octagon  pillars,  with  plainly- 
moulded  capitals ;  but  those  on  the  north  side  are  of  earlier  date. 
The  north  arcade  approximates  to  the  Early  English  style,  and 
cannot,  we  think,  be  later  than  1275 ;  but  the  opposite  arcade  is 
distinctly  Decorated,  and  seems  to  be  circa  1320.  The  chancel 
arch  corresponds  with  the  work  of  the  earlier  arcade.  The 
square-headed  windows  of  the  aisles  are  new,  and  so  also  is  the 
north  porch.  The  hood-mould  of  the  south  door  is  old,  and  of 
Decorated  date.  There  are  three  clerestory  windows  of  two  lights 
on  each  side,  which  have  at  some  time  in  the  "churchwarden  era" 
been  deprived  of  the  tracery  that  they  undoubtedly  possessed  when 
first  erected  in  the  Perpendicular  period.  The  north  aisle  is  con- 
tinued eastwards  so  as  to  form  a  chapel  to  the  chancel,  into  which 
it  opens  b}7  a  Decorated  archway  resting  on  corbels.  In  the  south- 
east angle  of  this  chapel  is  a  small  piscina  niche.  This  part  of 
the  church  is  now  occupied  by  the  organ.  The  chancel  has  much 
new  work  about  it  ;  but  one  of  the  two-light  square-headed 
windows  on  the  south  side  is  of  Decorated  date,  and  so  are  the 
buttresses  at  its  east  end.  The  tracery  of  the  pointed  east  window 
is  new,  but  the  hood-mould  and  terminals  are  original.  The  two- 
light  north  chancel  window,  with  cinquefoil  heads,  is  of  Perpen- 
dicular date,  and  exactly  corresponds  with  the  architecture  of  the 
tower  and  its  deeply-recessed  west  window  of  three  lights.  The 
Powtrells,  on  becoming  possessed  of  the  manor  and  advowson, 
seem  to  have  rebuilt  the  tower  and  otherwise  repaired  the  fabric  of 
the  church. 


224  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

The  font,  which  stands  at  the  west  end  of  the  south  aisle,  is  of 
massive  octagon  shape,  rising  from  a  square  base,  with  the  angles 
chamfered  off  like  a  broach  spire.  It  is  30  in.  in  diameter  and 
43  in.  high.  We  believe  it  to  be  of  fourteenth  century  date. 

Mr.  Eeynolds,  who  visited  this  church  in  1821,  says: — "The 
windows  have  some  few  remains  of  painted  glass,  sufficient  to 
enable  us  to  conjecture  that  what  was  originally  placed  herein  was 
very  fine  and  good."  In  the  middle  clerestory  window  on  the 
north  side  is  the  head  and  upper  half  of  a  bearded,  bare-headed 
man,  having  in  his  left  hand  a  book,  and  over  his  right  shoulder 
a  curiously-shaped  club.  Over  the  figure  is  the  mutilated  legend — 
"  Sanctam  Ecclesiam  Catholicam  Sanctorum  Communionem."  This  is 
the  figure  of  S.  James  the  Less,  martyred  A.D.  62  by  a  blow  from 
a  fuller's  bat.  No  doubt  the  twelve  lights  of  the  clerestory 
windows  were  originally  filled  with  the  figures  of  the  twelve 
apostles,  with  different  clauses  of  the  Apostles'  Creed  appropriated 
to  each.*  Two  of  the  small  figures  under  canopies,  in  one  of  the 
south  windows  of  the  chancel,  are  old,  and  were  here  noted  by  Mr. 
Meynell  in  1815.  From  the  same  gentleman's  notes  we  learn  that 
there  were  then  no  arms  in  the  windows;  so  that  the  coats  in  the 
north  chancel  window,  t  if  old,  as  one  or  two  appear  to  be,  must 
have  been  moved  here  from  the  old  Hall.  The  interesting  quarries 
of  yellow-stain  in  this  same  window,  representing  birds  in  quaint 
attitudes,  also  appear  to  be  ancient  glass  ;  but  it  is  said  to  have 
been  placed  in  the  east  chancel  window  when  the  Hall  was  pulled 
down,  and  then  moved  here  in  1855,  to  make  way  for  a  new 
stained-glass  design. 

Bassano's  MS.  Church  Notes  (1710)  mention  two  figures  then 
extant  in  the  north  chancel  window,  and  under  them  the  inscrip- 
tion : — "  Orate  pro  anima  Roberti  Alyn  quondam  Rectoris  hujus  Ecch 
qui  istam  fenestram  fieri  fecit."  This  gives  us  the  exact  date  of 
this  window,  and  consequently,  from  its  similarity  of  style,  of  the 
tower. 

On  the  floor  of  the  chancel  is  an  alabaster  slab  incised  with  a 
figure  in  plate  armour,  and  the  following  inscription  round  the 
margin  : — "  Hie  jacet  Thomas  (Powtrell  armiger  quondam  Dns  istius 
ville  et)  patron1  hujus  ecclice  qui  obbiit  xxiiii  die  Augusti  A°  Dni 
M°CCCC°LXXXIIII  cuj'aie  ppicietur  Deus  amen." 

*  On  the  appropriation  of  the  various  clauses  of  the  Creed  to  the  respective 
Apostles,  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  245. 

t  These  coats  are : — Cotton,  Strelley,  Powtrell  and  Strelley  quarterly  impaling 
Bassett,  Powtrell  impaling  Cotton,  Powtrell  impaling  Strelley,  and  Newdigate. 


WEST    HALLAM.  225 

The  part  in  brackets  is  now,  unfortunately,  worn  away  :  it  is 
supplied  from  the  notes  of  Bassano  and  Meynell.  This  slab  used 
to  stand  on  a  raised  altar-tomb  in  the  north-east  angle  of 
the  chancel,  within  the  altar  rails.  On  the  slab  are  the  arms 
of  Powtrell  (arc/.,  a  fesse  between  three  cinquefoils,  yu.),  and  also 
of  Powtrell  impaling  Cotton  (az.,  an  eagle  displayed,  ary.).  Thomas 
Powtrell  married  Katharine,  daughter  of  John  Cotton,  of  Eidware. 
Their  eldest  son  and  heir  was  John  Powtrell,  who  married 
Margaret,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  John  Strelley.  In  the  east 
window  (as  noted  by  Bassano)  there  used  to  be  the  impaled 
arms  of  Powtrell  and  Strelley  (paly  of  six,  arg.  and  az.}.  Thomas, 
their  eldest  son,  married  (1)  Dorothy,  daughter  and  co-heiress 
of  William  Bassett,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters,  and  (2) 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Walter  Kodney,  of  Stoke  Rodney, 
Somerset,  by  whom  he  had  Walter,  Gervase,  and  Maria.  This 
Thomas  Powtrell  died  in  1558.  On  the  chancel  floor  is  a  large 
stone,  7  ft.  2  in.  by  4  ft.,  from  which  the  brasses  have  been 
torn.  There  are  the  matrices  of  three  shields  at  the  top,  of 
an  inscription  in  a  parallelogram  at  the  base,  and  of  a  man 
in  civilian  dress  between  two  women  in  the  centre.  We  have 
no  doubt  that  this  was  the  monument  of  Thomas  PowtreU 
and  his  two  wives.  There  is  also,  on  another  stone,  the  matrix 
of  a  brass  ribbon  inscription. 

Against  the  north  chancel  wall  is  a  costly  raised  monument, 
under  a  canopy.  Upon  it  rest  the  effigies  of  a  man  and  his  wife, 
with  their  hands  elevated  in  prayer ;  the  woman  in  the  usual 
Elizabethan  costume,  with  a  French  cap  and  falling  lappet,  and  the 
man  in  late  plate  armour.  Over  the  figures  is  this  inscription  : — 

"Here  lie  the  Bodies  of  Walter  Powtrell  Esq  Lord  of  this  Towne  and  Patro 
of  this  Church,  and  Cassandra  his  wife  daughter  of  Frauncis  Shirley  of  Staunton 
in  ye  Countie  of  Leicester  Esq,  by  whom  he  had  Issue  3  sonns  and  4  daughters, 
wch  Walter  died  16  dale  of  Septemb'  An0  1598." 

At  the  head  of  the  tomb  are  the  quartered  arms  of  Powtrell 
and  Strelley,  and  a  twelve-quartered  coat  of  Shirley — viz.,  Shirley, 
Waldeshelf,  Milo  Earl  of  Hereford,  Meredeth,  Bassett  of  Brailsford, 
Brailsford,  Twyford,  Staunton,  and  EccleshaLL*  At  the  foot  of  the 
tomb  is  Powtrell  quartered  with  Strelley  impaling  Shirley  (paly  of 
six,  arg.  and  az.,  a  canton,  erm.)  This  shield  is  flanked  by  the 

*  For  an  explanation  of  the  right  of  Shirley  to  these  quarterings,  see  Stemmata 
Shirleiana,  passim.  In  the  same  volume  (p.  259)  is  an  interesting  letter  from 
Cassandra  Powtrell,  who  survived  her  husband,  to  her  nephew,  George  Shirley, 
of  Staunton,  about  assuring  the  West  Hallam  estate  to  her  son.  Another  of  her 
nephews,  Ealph  Shirley,  was  buried  at  West  Hallam,  Dec.  19th,  1623.  Parish 
Registers. 
16 


226  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

crests  of  Powtrell  and  Shirley,  which  are,  respectively,  a  hedgehog, 
gu.,  chained  and  quilled,  or ;  and,  on  a  wreath,  the  bust  of  a 
Saracen,  side-faced  and  couped,  proper,  wreathed  about  the  temples, 
or  and  az.  In  front  of  the  tomb  are  representations  of  the 
children,  with  their  shields  over  their  heads.  One  of  the  daughters 
is  represented  in  grave-clothes,  as  deceased  at  the  date  of  the 
erection  of  the  monument;  two  of  the  sons  are  in  armour,  and 
one  in  a  gown. 

1.  Thomas,  the  eldest  son,  baptized  July  7th,  1578,  married 
Eleanor,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Manners.  His  impaled  arms 
are  over  his  head.  He  died  without  issue.  2.  John,  bap- 
tized July  80th,  1580,  died  in  his  youth.  3.  John,  baptized 
February  14th,  1588,  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Edward 
Stanford.  His  impaled  shield  is  left  blank  on  the  monument. 
4.  Francisca,  died  in  her  youth.  5.  Eleanor,  baptized  Janu- 
ary 21st,  1572.  6.  Dorothy,  baptized  October  13th,  1574, 
married  George  Peckham.  The  impaled  coat  of  Peckham  (arc/., 
a  chevron  between  three  cross  crosslets  fitchee,  sab.)  and  Pow- 
trell is  over  her  head.  7.  Jane,  baptized  November  4th,  1576.* 

There  are  also  slabs  on  the  chancel  floor  to  the  memory  of 
Henry  Powtrell,  1666  ;  and  his  wife,  Anne  Powtrell,  1669 ;  to 
Eobert  Powtrell  and  Frances  his  wife,  1662,  1674;  and  to  John 
Stanford,  1667. 

In  the  chancel  chapel  is  a  mural  monument  to  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Eev.  Henry  Greatorex,  1697. 

The  slab  to  Eev.  John  Scargill,  the  munificent  founder  of  the 
West  Hallam  Free  School,  who  died  January  14th,  1669,  is 
covered  by  the  quire  stalls  on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel.  It 
bears  the  following  inscription  : — 

"Here  lieth  the  body  of  John 
Scargill  Gent.  Rector  of  this 
Church.  He  died  a  Batchelor 

January  17,  1662. 
He   built   a   Schoole  here   for 

XII  children  poore 
VI  of  this  Towne  and  VI  of 

IH  Towne  s  more 
To  whom  he  gave  besides 

Their  learning  fee 

IXd  a  weeke  to   each  boy 

Paid  to  bee. 

Aged  74." 

*  For  the  general  pedigree  of  Powtrell,  see  Harl.  MSS.  1,093  f.  60,  5,809,  f.  45  ;  and 
Egerton  MSS.,  996,  f,  39;  also  Dugdale's  Visitation  of  Derbyshire,  1662-4,  p.  39, 
College  of  Arms.  The  dates  of  baptisms  given  above  are  taken  from  the  Parish 
Registers. 


WEST    HALLAM.  227 

The  west  window  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  modern  insertion  to 
his  memory.  The  stone  over  his  grave  was  disturbed  in  a  strange 
way  about  a  century  ago,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  entry  in 
the  registers  : — 

1787.    Eevd  Mr  Wm.  Clark,  Eector  of  this  Parish,  buried  in  the  Chancel  of  this 
Church  under  the  Revd  Mr  Jn°  ScargilTs  Tombstone  Oct.  23. 

At  the  west  end  of  the  church  is  an  inscription  to  Eev.  William 
Darbyshire,  who  died  in  16S4.  He  was  curate  at  Stanley  chapel. 
His  name  is  on  one  of  the  bells  of  that  chapel,  with  the  date 
1661.* 

The  tower  contains  a  ring  of  six  bells,  thus  inscribed:  — 

I.  "Cast  by  John  Warner  &  Sons,  London,  1876.     Bless  ye  the 
Lord    all    ye    His    hosts.      In    memory   of   the    Rev.  Charles   John 
Newdigate.      Given  by  the  congregation     A.D.   1876." 

II.  "  Cast   by   John  Warner  &  Sons,  London,  1876.      Gloria  in 
excelsis  Deo.      In  memoriam  Caroli  Johannis  Newdigate,  A.D.  1876, 
fratrum  et  sororis  donum." 

III.  This   bell   bears    the   monogram    "  Ihc,"    a   cross   fleury,    a 
fleur-de-lis  stamp,   and   the   initials   "  G,  R.  H."   surmounted   by  a 
crown. 

IV.  "God  save  His  Church,  1743,  Tho  Hedderley,  founder." 

V.  "  God     save     the     Church,     1618."       Bell-mark    of     Henry 
Oldfield. 

VI.  "Cast  by   John   Warner  &  Sons,    London,    1876.      Laudate 
nornen    Domini.       In   memoriam    Caroli   Johannis   Newdigate,   A.D. 
1876,  fratrum  et  sororis  donum." 

There  is  a  further  inscription  in  the  body  of  the  church,  against 
the  tower  wall,  relative  to  the  three  memorial  bells  to  the  Rev. 
C.  J.  Newdigate. 

The  earliest  decipherable  date  in  the  first  register  book  is  of  the 
year  1539.  It  is  a  small  book,  of  parchment,  badly  kept,  and 
extending  to  1692.  There  are  a  good  many  early  Powtrell  entries, 
to  which  we  have  already  referred.  Under  the  year  1637  is  this 
entry : — 

Feb.  17.     Thomas  Higgins  servus  domine  Faux  sepultus. 

The  Lady  Faux,  or  rather  Vaux,  here  mentioned  was  the  Hon. 
Anne  Vaux,  daughter  of  William,  third  Lord  Vaux  of  Harrowden, 
and  a  great  friend  of  the  Powtrells.  She  was  an  energetic,  fearless 
woman,  and  had  undergone  imprisonment  in  the  Tower  and 

*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  312. 


228  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

much  persecution  for  adherence  to  the  Eoman  Catholic  faith.  Her 
residence  at  Stanley  Grange  (which  she  seems  to  have  held  on 
lease  from  the  Powtrells)  was  a  school  for  young  Komanists, 
the  sons  of  noblemen  and  gentlemen.  It  was  dispersed  in  1635, 
a  Privy  Council  warrant  being  issued  to  certain  pursuivants  "to 
seize  upon  all  such  books,  papers,  and  Massing  stuff  as  you  shall 
find  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Vaux,  called  Stanley  Grange  .... 
and  there  if  you  shall  find  any  Jesuit  or  other  suspected  person  to 
apprehend  him  or  them,  and  cause  them  to  be  brought  up  hither 
to  be  examined  by  us,  as  also  all  such  children  as  you  shall  find 
there."* 

From  the  subsequent  registers  we  make  the  following  extracts : — 

1698,  April  13.   Katharine  the  wife  of  Tho.  Smith  als  Cutler  was  found  felo  de  se 

by  y*  Coroners  inquest  &  interred  in  ye  crosse  ways  near  ye  wind  mill  on  y9 

same  day. 
1712.   Robt  Cop   Chirurgeon  found  drowned  in  the   Park  Mill  Brook  January  the 

11th  and  allowed  to  be  buried  Jan.  16th.  by  Mr.  Arthur  Dakin  Coroner. 
1745.   Old  Sarah  Baldack  of  Dale  Parish  aged  103  buried  Apr.  22. 
1747.  Joseph  Mottershaw,  John  Owen,  and  Charles  Bennet  all  three    killed    by 

falling  in  a  Pitt  and  all  buried  in  one  grave  June  7th. 
1815.  Revd.   Thomas  Bloodworth,    clergyman    of    the    Roniish   Faith   or   Church, 

buried  Jan.  31st  aged  56  years. 


The  following  extracts  from  some  notes  of  the  late  Eev.  C.  J. 
Newdigate,  kindly  lent  to  us  by  the  present  rector,  are  of  some 
interest: — "The  original  manor  house  was  a  moated  residence 
situated  in  what  is  now  the  Fox  Holes  plantation.  This  planta- 
tion was  made  about  1823  or  1824,  at  which  time  it  was  a  rough 
spot,  in  which  some  of  the  hewn  stones  of  the  ancient  building 
still  remained ;  the  moat  may  still  be  distinctly  traced.  From  this 
circumstance  the  place  was  for  many  years  called  '  the  Mot.' 

"It  appears  that  a  Hall  House  was  afterwards  built  on  West 
Hallam  hill,  westward  of  the  church,  of  the  character  of  which  no 
record  remains.  This  house  was  subsequently  taken  down  and  a 
Farm  House,  with  a  Eomish  Chapel  attached,  built  out  of  the  old 

*  Domestic  State  Papers,  Charles  I.,  vol.  ccxciv.,  No.  74  ;  also  ccxcix.,  No.  36. 
Though  staunchly  Anglican,  we  are  glad  of  this  opportunity  of  doing  our  little  to 
justify  the  character  of  this  apparently  most  estimable  and  shamefully  abused 
lady.  After  much  reading  of  the  original  papers  of  this  period  at  the  Public  Record 
Office,  we  are  at  a  loss  whether  to  feel  the  most  indignation  at  the  treatment  of  her  and 
her  friends,  or  at  the  groundless  and  maliciously  falsified  insinuations  made  against 
her  and  the  martyred  Father  Garnett  by  subsequent  Protestant  advocates.  Those 
who  may  be  interested  in  the  prominent  part  taken  by  the  lady  of  Stanley  Grange  and 
her  sister  in  the  religious  movements  of  those  times,  are  referred  to  Morris'  Condition 
of  the  Catholics  under  James  I.,  and  to  the  different  series  of  Foley's  very  interest- 
ing and  accurate  Records  of  the  English  Province  of  the  Society  of  Jesus. 


WEST    HALLAM.  229 

materials.  After  standing  for  about  60  years  this  House  was 
removed  about  A.D.  1833,  and  the  site  with  the  garden  was  added 
to  the  Churchyard,  and  consecrated  by  John  Lonsdale,  Bishop  of 
Lichfield.  At  this  time  some  ancient  stained  glass,  originally 
belonging  to  the  Hall  House  (but  afterwards  removed  to  the 
Eomish  Chapel)  was  placed  in  the  east  window  of  the  Parish 
Church." 

The  finding  of  an  ancient  font,  buried  in  a  pile  of  rubbish  at 
the  back  of  the  Free  Library  buildings,  in  the  Wardwick,  Derby, 
caused  us  quite  unexpectedly  to  light  upon  another  incident  con- 
nected with  the  flickering  of  the  Eoman  faith  in  this  parish.  An 
inquiry  made  in  the  Derby  Mercury  (September,  1878)  brought  us 
the  following  information.  When  Rev.  Thomas  Bloodworth,  the 
priest  of  the  Hunloke  tenantry,  was  dying,  in  1815,  he  expressed 
great  anxiety  respecting  an  old  font — so  much  so,  that  it  was 
actually  brought  into  his  bedroom.  Rumour  suggests  that  this 
font  was  used  at  West  Hallam  Hall,  by  Father  Campion  and 
other  of  the  seminary  and  mission  priests  who  there  found 
refuge,  for  the  secret  and  conditional  baptism  of  the  Roman 
Catholics  of  the  district.  After  his  death  it  passed  into  the 
custody  of  Robert  Wilmot,  Esq.,  of  Chaddesden.  He,  in  his  turn, 
handed  it  over  to  the  custody  of  Rev.  W.  Hope,  vicar  of  S. 
Peter's,  Derby ;  and  Mr.  Hope  thought  it  best  to  deposit  it  at 
the  Derby  Museum,  whence  it  was  ejected  as  an  unknown  piece  of 
lumber  when  the  old  buildings  were  taken  down.  It  is  said  to 
have  been  the  font  of  the  old  chapel  at  Mapperley,  in  Kirk 
Hallam  parish,  to  which  we  have  already  alluded.  Might  it  not  be 
a  reverential  and  comely  act  to  once  more  replace  it  within  conse- 
crated walls?  and  what  more  suitable  place  could  be  found  for 
this  ancient  relic  than  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  at 
Mapperley?  The  font,  which  is  destitute  of  all  base,  is  of 
eccentric  if  not  unique  design,  the  bowl  being  hollowed  in  a 
cruciform  shape  (Plate  X.)  It  is  30  in.  long  by  25  in.  broad,  and 
11  in.  deep. 


|  HE  manor  of  Heanor,  as  parcel  of  that  of  Codiior,  was 
held,  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  by  Warner, 
under  William  Peverel.  It  at  that  time  possessed  a 
church  ;  and  this  church  of  Heanor  was  in  the  eleventh  century 
given  to  Burton  Abbey,  being  to  a  certain  extent  subsidiary  (as  has 
been  already  explained)  to  the  ancient  church  of  S.  Mary,  in  Derby. 
On  the  lapse  of  the  royal  grant  of  these  churches  to  the  abbey,  in 
a  manner  that  has  not  hitherto  been  ascertained,  the  church  of 
Heanor  would  seem  to  have  reverted  to  the  crown,  and  to  have 
been  afterwards  granted  to  the  Greys  of  Codnor  by  King  John. 
Sir  Henry  Grey,  or  de  Grey,  of  Turroc,  in  Essex,  married  Isolda, 
one  of  the  nieces  and  co-heiresses  of  Kobert  Bardolf,  and  thus 
inherited  lands  in  Derbyshire  and  Nottinghamshire.  But  it  seems 
that  the  lordships  of  Heanor  and  Codnor  came  to  Sir  Henry  by 
direct  grant  from  the  crown  in  1211,  having  formed  part  of  the 
honour  of  Peverel,  which  had  reverted  to  the  crown  by  escheat. 
Sir  Henry  and  Isolda  Grey  had  six  sons,  the  progenitors  of  the 
noble  and  wide-spreading  family  of  that  name.  The  eldest  son, 
Sir  Richard  Grey,  held  the  Codnor  estates,  where  he  died  in  1255. 
His  son  John,  Lord  Grey  of  Codnor,  died  in  1271,  seized  of  the 
manors  of  Codnor  (including  Heanor),  Shirland,  Normanton, 
Beeley  and  Hazelbache  in  the  Peak,  and  the  advowson  of  the 
rectory  of  Heanor.*  Pedigrees  of  a  distinguished  family  like  that 
of  Grey  are  easily  accessible  ;  so  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  specify 
the  different  generations,  who  respectively  held  the  advowson. 
Henry,  Lord  Grey  of  Codnor,  the  last  of  that  branch  of  the 

*  Inq.  post  Mort.,  56  Henry  III.  (an  unnumbered  miscellaneous  bundle). 


234  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

family,  appropriated  the  great  tithes  of  Heanor  church  to  the 
neighbouring  abbey  of  Dale,  in  the  year  1473,  and  hence  they  also 
held  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage.  The  royal  license  was  obtained 
for  this  alienation,  on  condition  of  the  holders  of  the  tithe  per- 
petually sustaining  a  vicar,  and  also  providing  for  the  necessities 
of  the  poor  of  the  parish.*  On  the  threatening  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  monasteries,  Dale,  like  so  many  of  its  compeers,  hastened 
to  realise  all  that  it  could,  and  sold  the  next  presentation  to 
Nicholas  Powtrell  f  and  John  Malyn.  A  presentation  by  their 
nominee  was  made  in  1547 ;  but  the  vicarage  then  reverted  to 
the  crown,  with  whom  it  subsequently  remained  until  quite  recent 
years,  when  it  was  bought  by  trustees. 

The  following  list  of  rectors  and  vicars  is  chiefly  compiled 
from  the  Lichfield  Eegisters  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits 
Office  :— 

RECTOKS. 

1298.  Eudo  de  Derby ;  patron,  Sir  Henry  de  Grey.  This  rector  was  reinstituted, 
under  the  same  patron,  in  1300,  probably  on  account  of  some  informality. 

1304.  Roger  de  Shutton  ;  patron,  Sir  Henry  de  Grey. 

1320.  John  de  Shiringham ;  patron,  Sir  Richard  de  Grey  de  Codnor.  On  the 
death  of  R.  de  S.  Instituted  3  Kal.  July,  and  obtained  dispensation  for 
absence  for  study  till  the  feast  of  S.  Margaret  the  Virgin. J 

1346.  Gilbert  de  Grey ;  patron,  Richard  de  Wylloughby,  he  having  together  with 
Robert  de  Rempston  joint  power  of  presentation  for  this  turn  from  Sir 
John  Grey  de  Codnor.  On  the  death  of  J.  de  S. 

1348.  Nicholas  de  Grey;  patron,  Sir  John  de  Grey  de  Codnor.      On  the  resigna- 
tion of  G.  de  G. 

1349.  Roger    Sausemen ;    patron,  Sir  John  de  Grey  de  Codnor.      On  the  death  of 
N.  de  G. 

.  R.  Newton. 
1370.  Ralph  de  Barton ;   patron,  Sir  John  de  Grey  de  Codnor.     On  the  death  of 

R.  N. 
1385.  Roger  de  Cherlton ;  patron,  John,  Lord  de  Grey  de  Codnor.    Ou  the  death 

of  R.  de  B. 

1434.  William  Thrumpton;  patron,  Henry,  Lord  de  Grey. 

1435.  William  Wethurby,    rector    of   Morley,   exchanges   benefices  with   "W.    T., 
rector  of  Heanor. 

1440.  John  Fowler;  patron,  Henry,  Lord  de  Grey.     On  the  resignation  of  W.  W. 


*  Pat.  Rot.,  14  Edw.  IV.,  pt.  2,  memb.  10.  The  transference,  owing  to  legal  neces- 
sities for  the  avoidance  of  Mortmain  statutes,  was  not  made  direct  to  the  abbey,  but 
in  the  first  place  to  John,  Bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield,  William,  Lord  Hastings, 
Sir  Thomas  Stanley,  William,  abbot  of  Rufford,  Sir  Thomas  Burgh.  Sir  William 
Stanley,  James  Stanley,  clerk,  William  Babington,  Ralph  Sacheverell,  Henry  Sta- 
tham,  John  Stanton,  Richard  Malerya,  and  William  Orell,  clerk — and  they,  as  trus- 
tees, transferred  the  rectory  to  the  abbot  of  Dale. 

t  See  the  previous  account  of  West  Hallam. 

J  There  is  also  an  entry  relative  to  this  institution  in  Bishop  Norbury's  Act  Book, 
from  which  it  appears  that  John  de  Shiringhaia  was  not  at  that  time  even  in  any  of 
the  minor  orders.  He  was  ordained  deacon  at  Lichfield,  on  Easter  Eve,  1321.  On 
15  Kal.  November,  1322,  he  obtained  a  further  dispensation  for  non-residence  for  the 
purpose  of  study. 


HEANOR.  235 

VlCAES. 

1475.  William  Tykhull ;  patron,  abbot  of  Dale. 

1477.  John  Middleton.     On  the  resignation  of  W.  T. 

1485.  Richard  Nottingham,  canon  of  Dale.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  M. 

1491.  William  Cutt.    On  the  resignation  of  R.  N. 

.  Oliver  Pyggen.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 
1547.  Richard   Arnolds;  patron,  Robert   Cooke  de   Little    Hallam,  for  this  turn 

by  virtue  of   an  arrangement  between    Nicholas    Powtrell   and   John    Malyii 

and  the  lately  dissolved  abbey  of  Dale.     On  the  death  of  O.  P. 
1565.  Laurence  Brookes;  patron,  the  Queen.     On  the  death  of  R.  A. 
1604-1617.  William   Ashby.      Parish    Registers.     "I  married  Mr.  Ashbie  Vicar  of 

Heanor  by  a  license,  Oct  3d,  1614."    Morley  Parish  Registers. 
1633.  Josias  Hawksworth ;  patron  the  King. 
(1650).  Samuel  Wright.*    Parliamentary  Commission. 
1664.  James  Rathborne.    Parish  Registers. 
1669.  George  Westwood.    Parish  Registers. 
1698.  Samuel  Lees;  patron,  the  King. 
1737.  William  Clarke;  patron,  the  King. 
1774.  William  Gould.    Parish  Registers.    Killed  in  1788  by  a  kick  from  his  horse 

at  Eastwood,  on  his  return  from  hunting. 
1788.  John  Thompson ;  patron,  the  King. 

1821.  Richard  Whinfield;  patron,  the  King.    On  the  death  of  J.  T. 
1866.  Frederick   Corfieldjt    patrons,    Francis    Wright,   of    Osmaston,    and    other 

trustees.     On  the  death  of  R.  W. 

The  church  of  Heanor  was  valued  at  <£26  13s.  4d.  per  annum 
in  1291,  when  Pope  Nicholas  IV.'s  Taxation  Roll  was  drawn  up. 
The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  estimates  it  at  a  like 
amount.  But  out  of  this  revenue  the  abbey  had  to  pay  £9  to  the 
vicar  of  Heanor;  three  marks  to  the  Bishop  of  Lichfield,  the 
chapter  of  Lichfield,  and  the  prior  of  Coventry  respectively,  in 
recognition  of  the  episcopal  sanction  to  the  appropriation ;  seven 
shillings  and  sevenpence  in  archidiaconal  fees ;  and  twenty  shillings 
as  stipend  to  the  dean  J  of  Heanor.  In  addition  to  the  £9  in 
money,  the  vicar  also  had  a  house  and  croft,  valued  at  ten  shiUings 
per  annum. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  thus  report  of 
this  church : — 


*  "  A  good  Man  and  a  very  able  Preacher.  He  liv'd  in  much  Weakness  for  divers 
Years  after  his  being  Eject'd.  He  could  not  Preach,  as  the  rest  of  his  more  healthful 
Brethren  :  But  when  he  did,  he  Preach'd  to  very  good  purpose." — Calamy's  Ejected 
Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  167. 

•(•  We  are  much  indebted  to  the  Rev.  F.  Corfleld  for  kindly  supplying  us  with  those 
names  in  the  above  list  to  which  the  words  Parish  Registers  are  annexed,  and  also  for 
other  information  pertaining  to  this  church.  Mr.  Corfield  writes  to  us  as  follows  : — 
"  Since  1868,  the  chancel,  and  the  lands  belonging  to  it,  have  been  purchased  and 
made  over  to  me,  so  that  T  am  Hector.  It  was  not  possible  to  gazette  the  alteration, 
for  the  Bishop  of  Oxford's  Act,  about  that  time,  took  away  the  power  of  the  Ecclesi- 
astical Commissioners,  but  I  possess  all  the  rights  and  the  land  of  a  Rector." 

J  The  word  is  decano,  but  we  are  quite  at  a  loss  to  know  who  the  dean  of  Heanor 
could  have  been ;  on  the  whole  it  seems  probable  to  suppose  that  it  is  in  error  for 
diacano  or  deacon. 


236  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

"  Heynor.     Ser  Eychard  Arnold  Vycar. 

"  j  chalyce  parcell  gylte  j  canape  with  a  pyxe  of  latten — iiij  bells  in  the  steple 
— ij  haude  bells — j  sakering  bell — iiij  vestments — iiij  albes — ij  copes,  j  oyrede  saye, 
the  other  of  rydd  sylke — j  corperas  clothe  &  j  case — iij  aulter  cloyes — ij  towells — 
ij  cruytts  of  pueter — j  crysmatorye — ij  crosses  of  latten — j  holy  water  stope  of 
brasse — j  surplyce  for  the  prest — j  rotchet  for  the  clerke." 

The  Parliamentary  Commission,  of   1650,  says: — 

"  Heanor  is  a  viccarage  really  worth  twelve  pounds  per  annum,  no  chappell 
apperteyning.  Codnor  Castle  and  Codnor  Parke,  small  things  formerly  distant 
and  lying  wthin  the  Constablerye  are  fit  to  be  united.  Mr.  Samuell  Wright  is 
viccar,  an  able  man." 

This  church  was  heraldically  visited  on  August  20th,  1662,  by 
Sir  William  Dugdale  and  Elias  Ashmole.  From  the  notes  of  the 
former,  at  the  College  of  Arms,  and  of  the  latter  (which  in  some 
respects  are  rather  fuller)  at  the  Bodleian  Library,  we  find  that 
there  was  a  good  deal  of  stained  glass  then  extant  in  the  windows.* 

In  the  east  chancel  window  were  the  arms  of  Grey  (Barry  of 
six,  arg.  and  az.},  and  in  the  south  chancel  window  those  of 
Strelleyt  (Paly  of  six,  arg.  and  az.}. 

"In  the  uppermost  south  window  are  two  armed  knights  standing 
face  to  face  and  holding  up  these  two  Coates  of  Armes" — Grey, 
and  gu.,  a  cross,  or.:}:  In  the  same  window — Barry  of  six,  arg.  and 
az.,  a  bend  compony,  or  and  gu. — Grey  of  Sussex,  York,  and 
Lincoln.  In  the  next  window  westwards — Grey,  and  sab.,  a  pile, 
az.,  which  is  identified  by  Ashmole  as  pertaining  to  the  old  family 
of  Heynor. 

In  a  south  clerestory  window,  "  a  Knight  in  male  kneeling 
having  these  armes  upon  his  Surcoate — gu.,  a  fesse,  arg.,  between 
three  winnowing  baskets,  barry  of  the  second  and  az. — and  before 
him  this  Coate — Barry  of  six  arg.  and  az.,  on  a  bend,  gu.,  three 
mullets,  or."  The  latter  is  another  bearing  of  Grey.§  There  were 
also  three  other  varieties  of  the  much-changing  coat  of  Grey — viz., 
in  another  south  clerestory  window,  the  usual  bars  with  a  bend, 
gu. ;  and  in  a  north  window  near  the  west,  the  usual  coat,  dif- 
ferenced (1)  with  a  label,  or.,  and  also  (2)  with  a  label  of  three 
points,  sab.,  on  each  three  besants.  || 


*  Dugdale's  Visitation,  pp.  100,  10]  ;  Ashmole  MSS.,  854. 

f  The  Strelleys  held  the  manor  of  Shipley,  in  this  parish,  during  the  fourteenth  and 
two  following  centuries. 

J  This  coat  was  borne  by  several  families  ;  gu.,  a  cross  engrailed,  or,  is  given  by 
Papworth  as  one  of  the  bearings  of  Grey.  Dugdale,  however,  gives  the  field  of  this 
shield  sab. 

§  Harl.  MSS.,  1,392,  and  1,459. 

i|  For  further  information  relative  to  the  arms  of  the  Grey  family,  see  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  i.  pp.  333-5. 


HEANOR,  237 

In  the  window  near  the  pulpit,  on  the  north  side,  the  quartered 
arms  of  Zouch  (yu.,  ten  besants,  a  canton,  erm.)  and  Grey.  On 
the  death  of  Henry,  Lord  Grey  of  Codnor,  in  1496,  the  castle  and 
manor  reverted  to  Sir  John  Zouch,  son  of  Sir  John  Zouch,  who 
had  married  Elizabeth  Grey,  aunt  to  the  last  Henry,  Lord  Grey. 
Dugdale  mentions — in  a  belfry  windoAV,  sab.,  three  covered  cups, 
arg.,  and  below,  "Orate  pro  anima  Jacobi  Coupland ;"  also,  in  the 
east  window  of  the  south  aisle — "  a  Bishop  with  a  Miter  on  his 
head  and  a  Crosier  in  his  right  hand,  and  before  him  kneeling  a 
man  in  armour,  bare  headed,  with  a  close  sur  cote  of  the  armes 
of  Grey.  Betwixt  which  Bishop  and  the  Knight  is  this  Helnie 
and  Crest  here  represented."  The  sketch  is  in  pencil — apparently 
a  bird  with  outstretched  wings.  Below,  in  the  same  window,  the 
arms  of  Grey  twice  repeated,  and  sab.,  a  pile,  az. 

Ashmole  also  makes  mention  of  a  gallery  at  the  west  end  of  the 
church,  on  which  was  inscribed — "This  Loft  was  built  at  the  sole 
cost  of  John  Clarke,  of  Codnor,  gent.,  in  'the  year  1633,  who  dyed 
An0  Dni  1641,  et  Ano  ^Etatis  88." 

When  Bassano  visited  this  church,  in  1710,  there  were  only  six 
coats  of  arms  left  in  the  window  :  now  there  are  none,  and  the 
grand  old  family  of  Grey  of  Codnor  are  left  without  any  record  of 
their  long-continued  ownership  of  both  parish  and  church. 

There  is  nothing  left  of  the  old  church  of  Heanor,  dedicated  to 
S.  Michael,*  except  the  fine  west  tower.  By  a  much  to  be 
regretted  decision,  the  old  fabric  was  cleared  away  some  ten  years 
ago,  as  is  recorded  on  a  board  within  the  tower : — 

"  This  Church  was  restored  in  1868. 
Frederick  Corfleld,  Vicar. 
George  B.  Gregory      >    ch    Wardens. 
Fletcher  Draper  ) 

Date  of  tower  1454.f 

Probable  date  of  old  Church  12th  century. 
Wm  Cowlishaw,  Clerk." 

The  present   church   consists    of  a   nave,    side   aisles,   and   chancel, 
the   style   of  which    is    rather    a    poor    imitation   of   Perpendicular 

*  In  the  last  edition  of  Kelly's  Post  Office  Directory  of  Derbyshire,  this  church  is 
said  to  be  dedicated  to  S.  Lawrence,  but  we  cannot  find  any  ground  for  believing  this. 
It  was  certainly  dedicated  to  S.  Michael  in  the  sixteenth  century.— Pegge's  MSS., 
Bacon's  Liber  Regis,  etc.  The  Directory  is  wonderfully  profuse  in  its  errors  about 
Heanor ;  we  are  told  that  the  church  "  was  formerly  appropriated  to  Dale  Abbey,  and 
was  separated  from  it  in  1473,"  also  that  "  the  register  dates  from  the  year  1513,"  when 
no  registers  were  extant ! 

f  We  have  failed  to  learn  on  what  authority  this  precise  date  is  given.  It  seems 
more  probable  that  the  tower  would  be  rebuilt  about  1473-4,  when  the  church  was 
given  to  Dale  Abbey. 


238  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

work.  The  old  fabric  consisted  of  nave,  south  aisle,  and  chancel. 
The  dimensions  were: — Nave,  58ft.  by  12ft.  5  in.;  south  aisle, 
52  ft.  10  in.  by  10  ft.  9  in.;  and  chancel,  31  ft.  4  in.  by  17  ft.  9  in. 
From  a  south-west  view  of  the  church,  taken  by  Mr.  Rawlins  in 
1817,  and  from  a  north  view  of  about  the  same  date,  from  the 
pencil  of  Mr.  Meynell,  as  well  as  from  their  descriptions,  we  glean 
several  particulars  about  the  old  building.  The  large  west  window 
was  blocked  up,  and  outer  steps  led-  up  to  a  doorway  made  through 
one  of  the  lower  lights  ;  this,  we  suppose,  communicated  with  the 
singers'  gallery  at  the  west  end.  There  was  an  arcade  of  four 
pointed  arches  between  the  nave  and  the  aisle.  At  the  east  end 
of  the  aisle  was  the  vault  of  the  Mundys  of  Shipley.  The  font 
was  modern,  and  of  the  size  of  a  small  bason.  There  were  three 
windows  on  the  north  side  of  the  nave — two  without  tracery,  and 
one  of  Decorated  tracery — also  a  small  pointed  doorway.  A  wide 
doorway  to  the  chancel,  on  the  same  side,  and  two  pointed  windows, 
but  aU  blocked  up.  The  roof  of  the  nave  was  flat,  but  that  of 
the  chancel  had  a  high  pitch.  On  the  west  gable  of  the  nave  was 
a  sanctus  bell-cote. 

From  these  statements,  and  other  information  that  we  have  else- 
where gleaned,  it  does  not  seem  possible  to  suppose  that  there 
could  have  been  anything  about  the  old  building,  except,  perhaps, 
some  trifling  detail,  of  Norman  character.  Some  of  the  work  may 
have  been  Early  English  ;  but  the  church  was  certainly  repaired 
in  the  Decorated  period,  and  also  considerably  re-modelled  during 
the  Perpendicular  style,  at  the  time  the  tower  was  built.  It 
therefore  foUows  that  the  statement  on  the  board  in  the  tower, 
about  the  old  church  being  of  the  twelfth  century,  is  rather  mis- 
leading, as  twelfth  century  work,  unless  otherwise  specified,  is 
generally  understood  to  be  Norman. 

The  tower  is  a  lofty,  good  example  of  fifteenth  century  work. 
It  is  embattled,  but  the  pinnacles  are  of  poor  character  and  modern 
date ;  it  has  high  double  bell-chamber  windows  on  each  side. 

One  of  the  oldest  monuments  in  the  church  is  a  brass  plate, 
now  affixed  to  the  tower  wall,  to  the  memory  of  John  Clark,  of 
Codnor,  who  died  in  1641.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Kirkeland,  of  Wheatcroft,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Ellen, 
who  was  married  to  Gilbert  Clarke,  of  Somersall.  He  was  the 
donor,  as  already  mentioned,  of  the  old  west  gaUery. 

In  the  north  aisle  are   mural   tablets   to    "Prudence,  daughter  of 


HEANOR.  2-39 

Fran :  Low,  of  Owgrave,  and  wife  of  Tho :  Burton  of  Oldecarr," 
1679;  and  to  William  Parkes,  of  Knotcross,  Ashover,  1628. 

Watson,  the  principal  artist  engaged  in  the  elaborate  wood- 
carvings  at  Chatsworth — to  whom  is  due  the  credit  of  the  work 
usually  assigned  to  Grinling  Gibbons — was  a  native  of  Heanor.  A 
tablet  to  his  memory,  which  used  to  be  in  the  chancel,  but  is  now 
in  the  south  aisle,  bears  the  following  inscription  : — 

"Watson  is  gone,  whose  skilful  Art  displayed 
To  the  very  life  whatever  Nature  made ; 
View  but  his  wondrous  works  in  Chatsworth  Hall, 
Which  are  so  gazed  at  and  admired  of  all, 
You'll  say  'tis  pity  he  should  hidden  lie, 
And  nothing  said  to  revive  his  memory, 
My  mournful  friends,  forbear  your  tears, 
For  I  shall  rise  when  Christ  appears. 
This  Samuel  Watson  died  29th  March,  1715,  aged  53  years." 

In  the  tower  is  a  ring  of  five  bells,  thus  inscribed : — 
I.    "The  Churches   praise  I    sound  always,  1781.     Tho8  Hedderly 
of  Nottingham  fecit." 

II    "God  save  His  Church,  1634." 

III.  A  stamp   bearing  "Ihc,"  two  cross  stamps,  and  a  founder's 
mark  that  we  have   not   seen   on  any  other   Derbyshire  bell — three 
small  bells  in  a  shield,  and  over  the  shield  a  crown. 

IV.  "  Gloria   in   excelsis  Deo,    Ihc,"   and  the  founder's  mark  of 
"  G.  H."  above  a  fylfot  cross. 

V.  "  Tole  the  tune  that  dul  evill  is  to  such  as  livd  amisse, 

But  sweete  my  sownd  seems  unto  them  that  hope  for 

oifull  blisse. 

Deo  Westwood.     1686." 

This  lettering  is  in  Roman  capitals  close  together,  without  any 
break  between  the  words,  in  two  lines  round  the  haunch,  except 
"oiful  blisse"  and  the  two  following  words,  which  are  in  a  third 
line.  The  words  "Deo  Westwood"  are  in  Lombardic  lettering. 
The  initial  D  must  have  been  wrongly  affixed  to  this  bell,  by  a 
careless  workman,  instead  of  G. ;  it  being  evidently  intended  for 
the  name  of  George  Westwood,  vicar  of  Heanor,  in  1669.  The 
couplet  is  also  evidently  confused.  From  a  somewhat  similar 
couplet  found  in  Hedderly's  pocket-book,*  it  seems  that  "dul  evill" 
should  read  "  dismal." 

There  were  six  bells  in  this   tower  in  1765.  f      In   the    registers, 

*  Reliquary,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  85. 
f  Cole  MSS.,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  64. 


240  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

under  the  year  1781,  is  a  memorandum :  "  Little  bell  recast  at 
the  cost  of  £14  14s.  4d.  Old  bell  cast  at  £1  8s.  Od.  per  hundred, 
metal  added  at  Is.  2d.  per  pound." 

The   registers    date   from    the    year    1559,    and    contain    various 
matters  of  local  interest. 


The  Strelleys,  in  the  fourteenth  century,  obtained  episcopal  sanc- 
tion for  the  establishment  of  an  oratory,  or  private  chapel,  attached 
to  then-  manor  of  SHIPLEY,  in  this  parish.  In  Wolley's  MS.  history 
of  the  county,  written  about  1716,  it  is  stated  that  there  was  "  a 
chapel  of  ease"  at  Shipley.  No  trace  of  it  remains,  nor  can  we 
learn  anything  further  respecting  it. 

There  was  a  chapel  attached  to  the  extensive  CASTLE  OF  CODNOE 
in  this  parish.  Some  forty-five  years  ago,  the  font,  a  plain  one,  was 
dug  up  on  the  site.  It  now  stands  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  T.  S. 
Woolley,  of  Heanor,  having  been  purchased  by  him  from  a  farmer 
of  Codnor,  who  was  using  it  as  a  pig-trough. 


|HE  mauor  of  Horsley  was  held  by  Ralph  de  Buron  at  the 
time  of  the  Domesday  Survey.  Here  was  the  castle  of 
Horeston,  or  Horsley,  the  seat  of  his  barony.  No  mention 
is  made  of  a  church  in  the  Domesday  Book ;  but  one  must  have 
soon  after  been  erected  here  by  the  Buron  s,  for,  in  the  reign  of 
Stephen,  Hugh  de  Buron,  with  the  consent  of  his  sons  Hugh  and 
Eoger,  gave  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Horsley  to  the  priory 
of  Lenton.*  We  do  not  know  the  exact  date  at  which  the  great 
tithes  were  appropriated  to  that  monastery ;  but  it  was  apparently 
between  1291  and  1304.  At  the  former  date,  according  to  the 
Taxation  Boll  of  Pope  Nicholas  IV.,  the  church  (ecclesia),  not  the 
vicarage,  was  valued  at  £26  13s.  4d.  per  annum;  but  at  the  latter 
date  we  find  that  a  vicar  was  instituted  to  Horsley  on  the  presen- 
tation of  the  prior  of  Lenton. 

The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  estimates  the  clear 
annual  value  of  the  vicarage  at  £7  5s.  5d. 

The  following  is  the  inventory  drawn  up  by  the  Church  Goods 
Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI. : — 

"  Horseley,  Oct.  5.     Thos.  Dylke,  Viccar. 

"  j  chales  parcell  gylt  with  a  paten — j  canapye  with  a  pyx  of  laten — ij  crosses  of 
laten — j  water  ffatt  of  brasse  in  the  chauncell — iiij  bells  in  the  steple  &  a  lytell 
bell  with  a  clocke  upon  the  greatest  bell — ij  sakerying  bells — ij  hande  bells — iij 
vestments  —  ij  albes  —  iiij  corporasses  with  iiij  cases  —  j  old  coope  —  iiij  aulter 
clothes — vij  towels — ij  cruetts  of  puter — j  byble  &  a  boke  of  the  Comen  Prayers — 
ij  coffers  &  j  crismatorye." 

The  Parliamentary  Commissioners,  of   1650,  report: — 

"Horsely  is  a  viccaridge  really  worth  thirteene  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight- 
pence  per  annum  and  thirtye  pounds  from  the  Committee  for  plundered  ministers 
paid  forth  of  the  Impropriate  rectory  there  sequestred  from  the  Earle  of  Chester- 

feild." 

*  Stevens'  Continuation  to  Dugdale,  vol.  ii.,  p.  19. 


244  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

During  the  present  century,  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage,  with 
other  property  in  the  parish,  has  been  purchased  of  the  Stanhope 
family  by  the  Sitwells. 

The  following  list  of  vicars  of  Horsley  is  chiefly  compiled  from 
the  Lichfield  Eegisters  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office. 
As  the  prior  of  Lenton  was  invariably  the  patron  up  to  the  disso- 
lution of  the  monasteries — excepting  a  brief  period  in  the  fourteenth 
century,  when  the  crown  administered,  owing  to  a  dispute  as  to  the 
election  of  prior — it  has  not  been  thought  necessary  to  repeat  that 
fact. 

1304.  William  le  Malinere;   patron,  the  prior  of  Lenton. 
1309.  Herbert  Poucher. 
1313.  Henry  Pouger. 

1315.  Herbert  Pouger.     On  the  resignation  of  his  brother,  Henry  P. 
1317.  Henry  de  Halum.     On  the  resignation  of  H.  P. 
1329.  Roger  de  la  Place  de  Ambaston.     On  the  death  of  H.  de  H. 
1342.  Robert  de  Rodyngton;   patron,  the  King,  as  holding  Lenton  Priory.     On 

the  resignation  of  R.  de  la  P. 
1349.  Richard  de  Broydtston;   patron,  the  King.     On  the  death  of  E.  de  R. 

.  Richard  de  Grey. 
1363.  William  de  Bromley,  vicar  of  Sawley,   exchanged  benefices  with  B.  de  G., 

vicar  of  Heanor. 
.  John  Gylot. 

1418.  Thomas  Stacey.      On  the  resignation  of  J.  G. 
1442.  John  Vyeare.    On  the  resignation  of  T.  S. 
1457.  Richard  Ellys.     On  the  death  of  J.  V. 
1464.  John  Byngeley.     On  the  resignation  of  R.  E. 
1468.  Henry  Kent.     On  the  death  of  J.  B. 
1486.  Nicholas  Wodishawe.     On  the  death  of  H.  K. 
1500.  Thomas  Mason.     On  the  death  of  N.  W. 
(1536).  Thomas  Browne.      Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 
1537.  Thomas  Dylke.     On  the  death  of  T.  B. 

1564.  William  Herdman;  patron,  Ellen  Blumfylde  de  Horsley.    On  the  resigna- 
tion of  T.  D. 

1565.  Thomas    Nicholson  ;    patron,   Allan  Bloundevile.     On   the  resignation   of 
W.  H. 

1569.  Nicholas  Harvey;    patrons,  William  (?)  Blundeville  and  Hellen  his  wife. 

On  the  resignation  of   T.  N. 
1572.  Thomas  Tunstall;   patrons,  Alan  Blundville  and  Ellen  his  wife.     On  the 

resignation  of   N.  H. 

(1599).  Anthony  Benett.     Parish  Eegisters;  buried  6  Oct.  of  that  year. 
1600.  Robert  Time.     Parish  Registers. 
1617.  Robert  Evatt;   patron,  Philip  Lord  Stanhope.     Buried  19  Feb.  1643,  haviug 

been  vicar  26  years  and  6  months.     Parish  Registers. 
1663.  William  Bayley.    Parish  Registers. 
1701.  William  Taylour;  patron,  Earl  of  Chesterfield. 
1715.  Thomas  Ward.    Buried  3  March  1765,  aged  78,  having  been  vicar  50  years. 

Parish  Registers.     On  the  resignation  of  W.  T.* 
1765.  Richard  Holmes.    On  the  death  of  T.  W. 
1767.  Joseph  Goadard.    On  the  death  of  R.  H. 

*  Rev.  W.  Taylor  resigned  this  vicarage  as  a  Nonjuror  in  the  year  1715.     This  is 
the  only  instance  of  a  Derbyshire  Nonjuror  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 


HORSLEY.  245 

1778.  Samuel  Davenport;   patron,    Earl  of  Chesterfield.     On   the   resignation   of 

J.  G. 

1800.  Joseph  Milward;   patron,  Earl  of  Chesterfield.     On  the  death  of  S.  D. 
1837.  Samuel  Fox;   patron,  E.  D.  Sitwell.     On  the  death  of  J.  M. 
1870.  Grammer  Thompson ;   patron,  Kev.  H-  W.  Sitwell.    On  the  death  of  S.  F. 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Clement,*  consists  of  nave, 
aisles,  south  porch,  chancel,  and  tower  and  spire  at  the  west  end. 
It  is  finely  placed  on  a  commanding  eminence.  The  following  are 
the  dimensions  of  the  area : — Nave,  46  ft.  1  in.  by  21  ft.  2  in. ; 
north  aisle,  55  ft.  8  in.  hy  13  ft. ;  south  aisle,  58  ft.  4  in.  by  17  ft. 
8  in. ;  and  chancel,  33  ft.  6  in.  by  19  ft.  2  in. 

The  tower,  surmounted   by  a  broached  spire,  having  two  tiers  of 
projecting  lights,   reaching    to   an   altitude  of  about   130   feet,  is  a 
good    composition    of    the     Decorated     period,    about     the     middle 
of     the    fourteenth    century.      It    has    two    single    trefoiled    lights 
in    the   west    wall    of    the    basement,    and    no    doorway.      At    the 
four   corners   of   the   tower,   from  which   the   spire    rises,    are    the 
emblems  of  the  four  Evangelists — the  Lion,  the  Man,  the  Ox,  and 
the   Eagle.     The    square- set  buttresses   are    very  massive.     Agaiust 
the   east   wall    of    the   tower   is    the   weathering-line    of    the    gable 
of    the    old    high-pitched    roof.      Over   the    archway  into   the   nave 
is    a    doorway    or   window,    now    built   up,    which   probably    served 
for   the   ringer   to   know   when    to    sound   the   sauctus   bell   at    the 
'elevation  of  the  Host.      The   arcade   between   the   north   aisle   and 
the  nave  is  of  three  pointed  arches  supported  on  octagonal  pillars. 
It  corresponds  iu  date  with  the   tower  and  spire,   as  also  does  the 
archway    into    the    chancel.       The    south    arcade    is    similar,    but 
supported     on      circular     columns,     and     of    rather     earlier     date. 
Strictly  speaking,   this  arcade  is  only  a  few  years  old,  having  been 
completely    rebuilt,    as    we    shall    shortly    see ;    but   it   was   recon- 
structed just  after   the  former  plan,  and  many  of  the  same  stones 
were  re- used. 

*  The  wakes  of  Horsley  are  regulated  by  S.  James'  day,  but  those  of  Kilburn,  a 
township  within  the  parish,  by  the  feast  of  S.  Clement.  The  story  goes  that  the  good 
folk  of  Horsley  and  Kilburu  used  at  one  time  to  keep  their  wakes  on  the  same  day, 
but  that,  owing  to  feuds  and  brawls,  they  were  changed  to  different  times.  We  will 
not  here  repeat  what  we  have  several  times  said  respecting  the  re-dedication  of 
churches,  and  a  consequent  confusion  of  patron  saints ;  but  it  may  be  well  to  again 
state  that  the  wakes  by  no  means  invariably  corresponded  with  the  feast  day  of  the 
saint  to  whom  the  church  was  dedicated.  The  initial  service  in  a  completed  church 
would  usually  be  held  on  such  a  feast ;  but  some  little  time  often  elapsed  in  the 
mediaeval  times  before  a  bishop  was  able  to  consecrate  the  building.  Hence  we  find, 
as  mentioned  in  Archbishop  Simon's  encyclical  letter  (quoted  under  Crich),  that  the 
dedication  day,  and  the  day  of  the  saint  to  whom  the  church  was  dedicated,  were 
sometimes  distinct  festivals.  We  may  therefore  suppose  that  Horsley  church  was 
dedicated  to  S.  Clement,  but  that  the  consecration  or  dedication  festival  took  place 
on  or  about  the  day  of  S.  James.  Ecton's  Thesaurus,  published  in  1742,  gives  the 
dedication  as  S.  Barnabas;  but  of  this  we  have  met  with  no  confirmation,  except  iu 
Pegge  (MSS.),  who,  however,  evidently  copies  from  Ecton. 


246  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

In  the  Perpendicular  period,  about  1450,  the  church  underwent 
an  extensive  alteration.  The  walls  above  the  nave  arcades  were 
raised,  and  particularly  good  clerestory  windows  inserted.  These 
windows  are  pointed  and  of  two  lights,  and  are  set  in  pairs  in 
each  bay,  there  thus  being  eight  on  each  side.  A  small  two-light 
square-headed  window  was  placed  over  the  chancel  arch.  The 
chancel  itself  was  rebuilt,  and  lighted  with  Perpendicular  windows ; 
and  the  aisles  were  also  lighted  throughout  with  square-headed 
traceried  windows  of  that  style.  There  is  a  good  moulded  wall 
plate,  carried  round  the  south  aisle  from  the  chancel;  but  on  the 
north  side  this  stops  short  with  the  first  bay  of  the  aisle.  The 
masonry  of  all  but  the  east  end  of  that  aisle  is  plainly  of  a 
different  character,  and  is  of  the  same  date  as  the  tower  and 
other  work  of  the  fourteenth  century.  It  was  probably  found  to 
be  too  substantial  to  be  worth  renewing  in  the  next  century, 
though  they  repierced  its  walls  with  Perpendicular  windows  to 
harmonise  with  the  rest  of  the  church.  The  blocked-up  pointed 
doorway  in  the  north  chancel  wall  is  of  Decorated  date.  The 
chancel,  nave,  and  south  aisle  have  battlements  and  pinnacles,  but 
the  north  aisle  retains  a  plainly-moulded  parapet.  The  south  porch 
is  also  embattled ;  it  has  a  small  niche  over  the  doorway,  and  a 
weU-executed  crucifix — strange  to  say,  in  fair  preservation — on  the 
gable.  On  this  side  of  the  church  are  some  remarkable  and  far- 
protruding  gurgoyles.* 

The  font  is  a  large  and  fine  example  of  the  Perpendicular  period. 
It  is  of  octagon  shape,  and  boldly  carved  with  roses  and  stiff 
foliage.  In  diameter  it  is  38  in.,  and  now  stands  4  ft.  10  in.  high, 
but  the  base  is  new.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  recent  alterations,  it 
was  thickly  coated  with  yellow  ochre.  There  are  three  sedilia  of 
equal  height  in  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel.  The  canopies  have 
cinquefoil  heads,  and  are  flanked  with  uncharged  shields.  There 
is  no  piscina  in  the  chancel,  but  a  smah1  one  may  be  seen  at 
the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle,  and  a  double  one  at  the  same 
end  of  the  north  aisle.  It  should  be  mentioned  that  these  aisles 
are  each  prolonged  a  single  bay  on  a  level  with  the  chancel,  into 
which  they  open  by  side  arches,  supported  on  corbels,  of  Deco- 
rated date.  Mr.  Eawlins  also  noted,  in  the  pavement  of  the  north 
aisle,  part  of  an  alabaster  slab,  but  covered  by  a  pew ;  and  that 
a  portion  of  the  south  aisle,  at  the  east  end,  was  "  divided  by 

*  The  most  remarkable  of  these  is  engraved  in  Parker's  Glossary,  vol.  ii.,  plate  64. 
He  gives  the  date  as  circa  1450. 


HORSLKY.  247 

a  screen  of  rudely  ornamented  open  work,  which  is  used  as  a 
Sunday  school." 

The  church  was  restored — on  the  whole,  most  judiciously  -  in 
1858-60,  at  a  cost  of  £2,221.  The  top  of  the  spire  was  then 
renewed,  new  roofs  were  supplied  throughout,  and  the  whole  of  the 
church  reseated  and  repaved.  "  While  the  pillar  nearest  the  west 
end  of  the  South  Clerestory  wall,  and  which  had  long  seemed  in 
an  insecure  state,  was  being  examined,  it  fell  down,  October  4th, 
1858,  bringing  with  it  the  whole  of  that  side,  and  demolishing  in 
its  descent  the  greater  part  of  the  old  pews,  and  of  a  gallery  that 
ran  along  the  length  of  the  west  end ;  the  arch  under  the  steeple 
being  at  that  time  bricked  up."  '• 

The  tower  contains  a  ring  of  four  bells,  of  which  the  tenor  is 
of  exceptionally  sweet  tone.  It  is  said  in  the  parish  that  at  the 
time  of  the  rebuilding  of  S.  Alkrnund's,  Derby,  the  then  vicar  was 
disposed  to  seh1  the  tenor  to  that  church,  and  that  negotiations 
were  entered  into  respecting  it  ;  but  the  projected  sale  was 
summarily  checked  on  it  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  churchwardens. 

I.  "  Ihs  be  oure  sped."      Mark  of  Henry  Oldfield. 

II.  "I  sweetly  toling  men  do  call 

To  taste  on  meats  that  feeds  the  soule,  1620." 
Mark  of  George  Oldfield. 

III.  "  God    save   our    King,    John    Beardsley,    1660."      Mark  of 
George  Oldfield. 

IV.  "Ihc  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo,  Anno  Dni  1603."     The  Heath  - 
cote  mark,  "  G.  H.,"  above  a  fylfot  cross. 

The  registers  begin  in  the  year  1558.  Down  to  1599  they  are  a 
transcript  from  an  older  book.  There  is  a  blank  between  1643 
and  1660.  The  first  volume  ends  in  1707 ;  many  of  the  earlier 
pages,  subsequent  to  1599,  are  in  poor  condition.  There  are  no 
interpolations.  There  is  a  tradition  current  in  the  parish  that 
Horsley  has  the  honour  of  being  the  birthplace  of  Dick  Turpin. 
John  Tyrpin  was  churchwarden  in  1599,  and  the  name  continues 
in  the  registers  down  to  the  present  century.  The  unusual 
Christian  name  of  Pascha  occurs  within  the  year  1705. 

*  We  quote  this  from  the  flyleaf  of  the  Parish  Registers,  where  a  succinct  account 
of  all  the  alterations  made  in  1858-60  has  been  carefully  entered  by  the  present  vicar, 
"for  the  benefit  of  posterity."  This  is  an  example  that  cannot  be  too  highly  praised, 
and  which  is  well  worthy  of  imitation 


248  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 


of 


||HE  old  parish  of  Horsley  comprised  not  only  the  town- 
ships of  Horsley,  Woodhouse,  and  Kilburn,  but  also  the 
parochial  chapelry  of  Denby.  The  great  tithe's  of  Denby 
were  appropriated  to  Lenton  priory  at  the  same  time  as  those  of 
Horsley,  and  the  vicar  of  Horsley  was  bound  to  see  that  divine 
service  was  duly  celebrated  in  the  chapel  of  Denby.  On  the  feast 
of  S.  Clement,  1484,  a  covenant  was  entered  into  between  Henry 
Kent,  vicar  of  Horsley,  with  the  consent  of  Kichard,  prior  of 
Lenton,  and  Lawrence  Lowe,  of  Denby,  to  have  a  priest  to  say 
daily  Mass  in  the  chapel  of  Denb}7.  It  was  proved,  and  acknow- 
ledged by  Henry  Kent,  that  the  vicars  of  Horsley  had  previously, 
from  time  immemorial,  provided  and  paid  a  resident  priest  at 
Denby,  and  an  undertaking  was  given  that  the  same  should  be 
done  for  the  future.  But  Lawrence  Lowe,  finding  no  resident 
priest,  had,  in  default,  engaged  Sir  Christopher  Bury,  from 
Michaelmas  day  last  passed,  for  a  year,  at  a  stipend  of  seven 
marks,  to  say  the  divine  service  daily.  If  the  vicar  paid  these 
seven  marks,  and  continued  to  do  so  yearly,  either  to  Sir 
Christopher  Bury  or  to  some  other  suitable  priest,  then  the  bond 
was  to  be  void  ;  but  otherwise,  on  failure  thereof,  the  vicar  bound 
himself  to  pay  a  fine  of  £40  to  Lawrence  Lowe.* 

The  manor  of  Denby,  at  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey, 
belonged  to  Ralph  de  Buron,  under  which  family  it  was  held,  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  I.,  by  Patrick  Bossel.  It  remained  with  the 
Eossels  for  upwards  of  three  centuries,  when  it  passed,  by 
marriage  with  the  heiress,  to  Lawrence  Lowe,  serjeant-at-law,  a 
younger  son  of  the  Lowes,  of  La  Lowe,  in  the  parish  of  Great 
Bud  worth,  Cheshire. 

•  Meynell  MSS.;  Add.  MSS.  6,666,  f.  208. 


.11*. 


DENBY.  249 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI., 'thus  report: — 

"  Denby.     Oct.  5.     Rich  Heiths  curate. 

j  chales  of  sylver — iij  bells  in  the  steple — j  litle  bell  called  a  saunce  bell — j 
sacrying  bell — j  hande  bell — iij  vestments  of  \vyte  and  redd  say — ij  albes  of  sylke — 
j  cope,  of  saten  sylke — ij  corporasses  with  cases — j  table  clothe — iij  towells — ij 
cruetts  of  puter — ij  surplesses  for  the  prist— j  rochett  for  the  clerke — j  crosse  of 
brasse  gyldett — j  byble — j  boke  called  the  comen  Prayer." 

Jane  Mas sie,  by  will  dated  1728,  left  £200  to  meet  a  like  sum 
of  £200  from  Queen  Anne's  Bounty  for  the  augmentation  of  the 
living.*  This  augmentation  being  granted,  changed  Denby  from  a 
simple  cure  to  a  perpetual  curacy,  and  thereby  initiated  its  inde- 
pendence of  Horsley.  The  benefice  was  subsequently  increased  by 
a  Parliamentary  Grant,  and  it  is  now  regarded  -as  a  vicarage. 

The  church,  or  chapel,  which  is  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary,  consists  of  nave,  aisles,  south  porch,  chancel,  and  tower 
and  spire  at  the  west  end.  The  dimensions  of  the  building, 
according  to  Mr.  Kawlins,  are — Nave,  33  ft.  8  in.  by  18  ft.  3  in. ; 
north  and  south  aisles,  each  30  ft.  5  in.  by  7  ft.  11  in.;  and  chancel, 
27  ft.  by  14  ft.  6  in.  The  nave  is  separated  from  the  south  aisle 
by  two  rounded  arches,  springing  from  a  circular  central  pier  and 
two  semicircular  responds.  The  capitals  of  the  responds  have  a 
narrow  baud  of  the  "nail-head"  moulding,  though  that  at  the  east 
end  has  been  nearly  chipped  away.  The  date  of  this  arcade  is 
towards  the  end  of  the  Norman  style,  not  earlier  than  the  reign  of 
Stephen.  The  opposite  arcade  was  described  by  Mr.  Eawlins,  in 
1825,  as  consisting  of  two  arches,  "  cut  out  of  the  wall,  like  those 
on  each  side  of  the  reading  desk  and  pulpit  in  Eepton  church, 
springing  from  a  circular  column,  with  a  square  capital  rudely 
sculptured  and  profusely  whitewashed  so  as  nearly  to  obliterate  its 
design."  Mr.  Eawlins  was  well  acquainted  with  Eepton  church, 
having  long  been  resident  in  that  village ;  and  there  seems  no 
reason  to  doubt,  judging  from  this  description,  that  this  arcade  was 
of  Saxon  origin.f  In  1838,  this  church  was  most  disastrously  and 
barbarously  treated,  the  north  arcade  being  removed,  the  wall  of 
the  north  aisle  being  raised  level  with  that  of  the  nave,  and  the 
north  clerestory  windows  placed  above  those  of  the  aisle.  A 
gallery  was  erected  on  the  north  side,  supported  by  iron  pillars 
which  run  up  to  the  roof;  a  west  gallery  was  built  to  block  up 
the  tower ;  the  massive  old  oak  seats  and  benches  removed ;  the 
ancient  timbered  roofs  concealed  by  flat  plaster  ceilings  ;  old 

*  Charity  Commissioners'  Reports,  vol.  xvii.,  p.  161. 
f  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  435,  plate  xix. 


250  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

heraldic  glass  recklessly  destroyed  ;  and,  in  short,  a  shameful 
havoc  made  of  an  exceptionally  interesting  fabric. 

The  chancel  is  of  good  Decorated  character,  about  the  middle  of 
the  fourteenth  century.  The  four-light  east  window  has  a  flam- 
boyant character.  There  are  two  two-light  pointed  windows  and  a 
narrow  priest's  door  in  the  south  wall,  and  one  similar  window  in 
the  north  wall.  The  east  window  of  the  north  aisle  is  also  of 
this  style.  The  remaining  windows  of  the  aisles  are  square-headed 
Perpendicular  lights,  circa  1450,  except  a  debased  west  window  to 
the  south  aisle ;  that  aisle  having  been  extended  a  bay  to  the  west, 
so  as  to  include  one  of  the  tower  buttresses.  There  are  three 
three-light  clerestory  windows,  of  a  late  character,  on  the  south 
side ;  the  similar  ones  on  the  north  side  having  been,  as  already 
remarked,  replaced  immediately  above  the  aisle  windows.  The 
high-pitched,  picturesque  porch,  having  a  stone  roof,  did  not  form 
part  of  the  original  design,  when  the  church  was  rebuilt  in  the 
fourteenth  century.  It  is  not  set  quite  straight  with  the  Decorated 
inner  doorway:  its  date  seems  to  be  circa  1375.  The  inner  walls 
are  panelled  into  two  compartments.  The  tower  and  spire  are 
a  fair  sample  of  Decorated  work,  and,  judging  from  the  west 
window,  are  tolerably  early  in  that  style.  The  general  features 
are  well  shown  on  Plate  XL  Note  the  large  ogee-shaped,  moulded 
niche  ;  the  crown,  of  the  stair-turret  ;  and  the  wavy  line  of 
moulding  on  the  parapet,  corresponding  to  that  on  the  Decorated 
towers  of  Chesterfield  and  Crich. 

The  ogee  doorway  to  the  tower  stairway,  from  the  inner  base- 
ment of  the  tower,  is  built  up,  and  a  stove-pipe  thrust  through  it. 
Access  is  now  gained  by  a  doorway  in  the  outer  north  wall,  which 
was  pierced  in  1838.  The  present  belfry  floor  is  four  feet  below 
the  proper  level,  which  is  shown  by  the  perfect  stone  corbels  which 
still  project  from  all  four  walls.  Part  of  the  lintel  of  the  south 
single-light  window  to  this  belfry  is  formed  of  the  head  of  an 
incised  sepulchral  cross,  which  pertains  to  the  eleventh  or  early  in 
the  twelfth  century. 

In  the  south  chancel  wall  are  two  sedilia  of  equal  height,  with 
ogee  crocketed  canopies,  and  a  corresponding  piscina  beyond.  In 
the  north  wall  is  an  oblong  almery  recess.  The  Holy  Table  is  of 
seventeenth  century  date,  with  a  locker  or  deep  drawer  below  it. 
In  the  projecting  chancel  pier  at  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle  is 
a  rather  rudely  cut  small  piscina,  with  a  credence  shelf,  also  cut 
out  of  the  stone,  above  it.  Of  the  east  end  of  this  aisle  Mr. 


DENBY.  251 

Rawlius  gives  the  following  quaint  and  rather  unintelligible 
account — an  account  which  cannot  be  further  explained,  owing  to 
the  Goths  of  1838: — "Near  to  the  reading  desk  and  pulpit  is  the 
family  pew  of  the  Lowe  family,  which,  through  a  Tudor  arch, 
partly  walled  off,  was  once  the  entrance  into  a  small  confessional, 
which  supposition  is  good,  as  there  appears  to  have  been  a  wall 
across  this  end  of  the  north  aisle  from  the  nave  ;  and  still  more 
strong  is  this  my  supposition,  as  there  is  herein  a  piscina  nearly 
perfect  in  a  small  recess.  Over  this  arch  is  a  little  pointed 
opening,  it  might  have  been  for  giving  light  to  a  room  over  this 
confessional,  once  occupied  by  the  Confessor,  previous  to  the  hour 
of  confessing,  that  he  might  be  ready  for  the  arrival  of  the 
Penitent!" 

Below  the  east  window  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  sort  of  paneUed 
recess  with  a  moulded  border  of  stone.  It  is  now  thickly  coated 
with  whitewash,  but  was  probably  originally  painted  in  fresco  with 
an  altar  piece  for  the  side  altar  of  that  aisle.  It  should  be  com- 
pared with  the  similar  stone  panels  at  the  east  ends  of  the  aisles 
of  Chaddesden  church,  where  traces  of  the  fresco  still  remain. * 
The  octagon  font,  under  the  west  gallery,  resembles  the  capital  of 
a  pillar.  From  the  mouldings  we  judge  it  to  be  of  Decorated 
date.  The  basin  is  unusually  shallow  ;  it  stands  on  a  plain 
octagon  base,  which  is  wider  than  the  actual  stem  of  the  font. 

When  Mr.  Bawlins  was  here  (1825),  he  noted  "  a  rudely  carved 
screen "  between  the  nave  and  the  chancel.  At  Bassano's  visit,  in 
1710,  there  were  the  arms  of  Bossel  in  a  south  aisle  window,  and 
of  Greyt  in  the  east  window  of  the  north  aisle.  On  the  roof  of 
the  church,  carved  on  the  beams,  .were  (1)  a  plain  cross,  (2)  a 
cross  engrailed,  in  each  quarter  a  rose,  (3)  a  buck  couchant,  (4) 
three  mullets  on  a  fesse  between  as  many  crescents,  and  (5)  a  cross 
formee.  In  one  of  the  north  clerestory  windows,  under  a  figure  of 
the  Virgin,  was  the  quartered  coat  of  Cokayne  and  Harthill.  Mr. 
Meynell  (1817)  also  observed  against  the  south  aisle  wall  an 

*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  309. 

f  "Richard  Lord  Grey,  of  Codnor,  held  a  small  manor  at  Denby,  which  he  possessed 
by  the  gift  of  William  Rosel  and  William  Berriack,  representatives  and  co-heirs  of 
John  de  Deiiby  ;  this  manor  afterwards  acquired  the  name  of  Park-Hall.  Richard 
Lord  Grey  procured,  in  1344,  a  charter  for  a  market  at  Denby  on  Thursdays,  and  a  fair 
for  two  days  at  the  festival  of  the  Nativity  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  From  the  Greys  the 
manor  of  Park-Hall  passed  to  the  Frechevilles,  and  was  sold,  about  the  beginning  of 
Henry  VIII. 's  reign,  by  Sir  Peter  Frecheville  to  Vincent  Lowe,  Esq.,  of  Denby,  who 
settled  it  on  his  younger  son.  On  the  death  of  Francis  Lowe,  Esq.,  of  Denby,  without 
issue,  in  1563,  Jasper  Lowe,  Esq.,  of  Park-Hall,  succeeded  to  the  Denby  estate,  and 
they  have  since  continued  to  be  united." — Lysons'  Derbyshire,  p.  188.  From  the 
appearance  of  the  Grey  coat  in  this  window,  it  would  seem  as  if  this  north  aisle  had 
formerly  pertained  to  the  Park-hall  manor. 


252  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

escutcheon  of  the  Lowe  quarterings  impaling  Cokayne  and  Harthill 
quarterly.  He  further  records  this  inscription  on  the  gate  of  the 
altar  rails: — "Maid  by  mee  Tho  Gillott  April  the  first  day,  1686." 
One  and  all  of  these  details  were  swept  away  in  1838. 

Vincent  Lowe,  of  Denby,  grandson  of  Lawrence  Lowe,  who  died 
about  the  year  1558,  married  Jane,  elder  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Cokayne  of  Ashbourn.* 

Against  the  north  chancel  wall  is  a  large  and  costly  monument 
consisting  of  two  canopies,  in  which  kneel  the  full-sized  effigies  of 
a  man  and  woman,  facing  outwards.  The  former  is  represented 
bareheaded  and  in  plate  armour;  and  the  latter  in  French  cap  and 
ruff,  and  with  a  triple  chain  round  the  neck.  Each  holds  a  book 
in  their  clasped  hands.  In  the  background  against  the  wall,  and 
almost  concealed  by  the  larger  figures,  are  representations  of  a  boy 
and  a  girl ;  and  also  of  two  other  children,  their  heads  covered 
with  a  white  veil  or  shroud,  but  otherwise  dressed  like  the  other 
two.  This  is  the  only  instance  that  we  are  aware  of,  of  so 
singular  a  method  being  used  to  signify  the  death  of  those  repre- 
sented. Below  the  two  principal  figures  are  spaces  for  inscriptions, 
but  these  spaces  are  now  blank.  At  the  top  of  the  monument  is 
the  following  quartered  coat: — (1)  sab.,  a  hart  trippant,  anj.  [Lowe 
of  Denby],  (2)  sab.,  three  roses,  gu.  [Rossel],  (3)  sab.,  on  a  fesse 
engrailed,  between  three  crescents,  gu.,  as  many  mullets,  art/. 
[Ashborne  ?],  and  (4)  or,  three  annulets,  gu.  [Mylton].f  On 

•  See  plate  xxxiv.,  Reliquary,  vol.  xi.,  where  there  is  an  elaborate  Lowe  pedigree, 
by  Capt.  A.  E.  Lawson  Lowe,  F.  S.A.  For  the  connection  between  the  Lowes  of  Denby 
and  of  Alderwasley,  see  the  account  of  Wirksworth  and  Alderwasley  in  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  ii. 

f  These  arms  have,  at  some  "  restoratipn,"  been  repainted,  and  the  tinctures  are  now 
thoroughly  confused.  The  arms,  as  given  in  St.  George's  Visitation  of  1612,  are  — 
Quarterly,  1,  az.,  a  buck  trippant,  arg.;  2,  arg.,  three  roses,  gu.,  barbed,  vert,  and 
seeded,  or;  3,  arg.,  on  a  fesse  engrailed,  between  three  crescents,  gu.,  as  many  mul- 
letts,  or;  and  4,  az.,  three  millstones,  arg.  The  third  of  these  coats  is  that  of  Ash- 
borne,  probably  introduced  by  the  marriage  of  a  Rossel  with  an  heiress  of  that  family. 
The  millstones  of  the  fourth  coat  have  been  altered  to  annulets  on  the  monument;  the 
second  wife  of  Lawrence  Lowe  was  a  co-heiress  of  Mylton.  Captain  Lowe,  F.S.A., 
has  kindly  furnished  us  with  the  following  note  relative  to  the  vexed  question  of  the 
early  pedigree  of  this  family  : — "The  Lowes  of  Denby  claimed  to  be  the  elder  branch 
of  the  family.  Thomas  Lowe,  the  ancestor  of  the  Alderwasley  branch,  being  stated  to 
have  been  one  of  the  younger  sons  of  Lawrence  Lowe,  serjeant-at-law,  who  is  said  to 
have  acquired  the  manor  of  Denby  by  his  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  the  Eossels. 
But  the  statement  that  Thomas  Lowe  was  the  son  of  Lawrence  Lowe  is  clearly  dis- 
proved by  a  charter,  dated  on  the  Monday  after  the  feast  of  the  Purification,  1472 
(Additional  MSS.,  6,666, /.  110),  whereby  this  Thomas  Lowe  mentions  his  brothers, 
Lawrence  Lowe  and  George  Lowe,  and  likewise  Humphrey,  Ottiwell,  and  Brian,  the 
sons  of  the  said  Lawrence.  Another  charter,  which  is  dated  on  the  8th  of  April,  14^>1 
(Additional  MSS.,  6,666,  /.  119),  distinctly  refers  to  Lawrence  Lowe, '  learned  in  the 
law,'  as  the  brother  of  Thomas  Lowe,  of  Alderwasley.  That  such  was  their  relation- 
ship can  hardly  be  doubted,  and  there  are  grounds  for  believing  that  Thomas  was  the 
elder  brother;  but  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  Lowes  of  Alderwasley  certainly 
quartered  the  arms  of  .Rossel,  a,nd,  indeed,  to  judge  by  a  shield  carved  outside  the  old 
chapel  at  Alderwasley,  seem  to  have  borne  them  at  one  time  in  place  of  their  paternal 
coat.  Documentary  evidence  of  the  match  between  Lawrence  Lowe  and  the  heiress 


DENBY.  253 

the  capital  of  the  central  pillar  is  the  same  quartered  coat 
impaliug  quarterly  1  and  4,  i/u.,  a  lion  rampant  within  a  bordure 
engrailed,  sab.  [Harpur],  and  2  and  3,  sab.,  a  chevron  and  in  chief 
a  lion  passant-guardant,  or  [Brock].*  On  the  capitals  of  the 
side  pillars  are  the  crests  of  a  wolf  and  a  hoar,  pertaining 
respectively  to  Lowe  and  Harpur.  From  the  armorial  bearings 
it  is  clear  that  this  is  the  monument  of  Patrick,  eldest  son  of 
Jasper  Lowe,  who  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Harpur,  of 
Swarkeston.  Their  two  surviving  children  were — Vincent,  who 
married  Anne,  natural  daughter  of  Henry  Cavendish,  of  Tutbury; 
and  Isabella,  who  became  the  wife  of  Sir  John  Zouch,  of  Codnor 
Castle.  Patrick  Lowe  was  born  in  1562 ;  but  we  do  not  know  the 
year  either  of  his  death  or  of  that  of  his  wife.  He  was  the  son 
of  Jasper  Lowe,  by  Dorothy,  daughter  of  William  Sacheverell,  of 
Stantoii-by-Bridge,  and  grandson  of  the  previously  mentioned 
Vincent  Lowe,  who  died  in  1558. 

When  Mr.  Meynell  was  here  there  were  wooden  rails  in  front 
of  this  monument,  "  erected  at  the  proper  cost  of  John  Lowe 
Esq.,  1726."  This  John  Lowe,  fifth  in  descent  from  Patrick  of  the 
monument,  married  Sydney,  heiress  of  Richard  Marriott,  of  Alscot. 
He  died  in  1771,  and  there  is  a  mural  blab  iu  the  chancel  to  his 
memory.  Another  mural  stone  is  to  the  memory  of  Richard  Lowe, 
of  Locko  Park,  who  succeeded  his  brother  John,  and  died  in  1785, 
without  leaving  lawful  issue,  The  estates  then  passed  to  his 
cousin,  William  Drury,  merchant,  of  Bread  Street,  London,  who 
assumed  the  additional  arms  and  name  of  Lowe  in  1790.  He  died 
in  1827,  aged  74,  as  is  recorded  on  the  slab  to  his  memory 


of  Rossel  seems  to  be  wanting,  yet  most  authorities  appear  to  concur  in  the  statement 
that  he  was  twice  married,  first  to  the  heiress  of  Rossel,  and  subsequently  to  Alice, 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  William  Mylton,  of  Gratton,  and  widow  of  Oliver  de 
Newton,  of  Newton,  in  Cheshire.  In  the  pedigree  of  the  family  entered  in  the  Visita- 
tion of  1612,  there  is  no  mention  of  any  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Rossel,  and  the 
children  of  Lawrence  Lowe  are  given  as  the  issue  of  the  above-named  Alice.  It  is, 
however,  sufficiently  obvious  that  she  could  not  have  been  the  mother  of  Humphrey, 
the  eldest  son  of  Lawrence  Lowe,  for  her  first  husband,  Oliver  de  Newton  (by  whom 
she  had  three  children),  died  of  the  plague  in  London,  in  1452,  and  was  buried  in  the 
church  of  St.  Andrew,  Holborn,  and  in  1462,  Humphrey  Lowe  was  married;  for  by 
a  charter  dated  in  that  year,  he,  together  with  Margaret  his  wife,  united  with  Law- 
rence Lowe,  his  father,  in  granting  certain  lands  in  the  meadows  of  Clifton,  to  John 
Cokayne  and  Thomas,  his  son.  Janet,  the  daughter  of  Lawrence  Lowe,  must  also 
have  been  the  issue  of  some  former  marriage,  for  she  became  the  wife  of  Richard  de 
Newton,  the  eldest  son  of  the  above-named  Alice,  by  her  first  husband.  Notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  no  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Rossel  is  recorded  in  the  pedi- 
gree entered  in  the  Visitation  of  1612,  the  Lowes  were  allowed  to  quarter  the  arms  of 
Rossel,  and  also  those  of  Mylton,  but  that  the  latter  quartering  was  improperly  borne 
is  sufficiently  evidenced." 

*  This  coat  is  also  wrongly  tinctured.  It  seems  to  be  intended  for  Brock,  but  the  field 
should  be  gules,  and  the  chevron  argent.  Gilbert  le  Harpur,  ancestor  of  Sir  John 
Harpur,  of  Swarkeston,  married,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  A. vice,  heiress  of  Robert 
de  Brock  of  Chesterton,  "Warwick. 


254  DERBYSHIRE  CHURCHES. 

against  the  south  chancel  wall.  He  left  only  one  daughter  and 
heiress,  Mary  Anne,  who  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Holden,  of 
Nuthall  Temple.  She  died  in  1840,  and  he  in  1844,  and  were  both 
buried  in  this  church,  as  is  also  recorded  on  the  plain  slabs  to 
their  memory  on  the  same  side  of  the  chancel.  Their  eldest  son, 
William  Drury  Holden,  assumed  the  name  and  arms  of  Lowe,  on 
the  death,  in  1849,  of  his  maternal  grandmother,  Anne,  widow  of 
William  Drury  Lowe,  of  Locko  Park. 

In    the    tower    is    a    ring    of    four    bells,    bearing    the    following 
inscriptions  :— 

I.  "God  save  His  Church."     The  bell-mark  attributed  to  Robert 
Mellour,  and  the  Lombardic  capital  letters,  "  H.  D. ' 

II.  "Ihc  Nazarenus  Rex  Judeorum." 

III.  "Ihc.  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo,  1604.''      The  Heathcote  mark 
of  '•  G.  H."  above  a  fylfot  cross. 

IV.  "  Patricke  Lowe  Esquire,   Anno  Do.    1604."      The  mark    of 
Henry  Oldfield.      This  is  a  richly-ornamented  bell. 

There  are  no  registers  extant  earlier  than  the  year  1725. 


Ilfepgfoiu 


|T  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  the  manor  of  Ilkeston 
was  partly  held  by  Gilbert  de  G-and,  and  partly  by  thanes 
immediately  of  the  King.  There  is  no  record  of  a  church 
at  that  date.  Gilbert  de  Gand,  nephew  of  William  the  Conqueror, 
in  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  gave  the  manor  of  Ilkeston  to  his 
seneschal,  Robert  de  Muskham.  After  four  descents,  the  heiress  of 
Muskham  married  Sir  Ealph  de  Gresley.  Eustachia,  daughter  of 
Sir  Ealph,  and  eventually  heiress  of  her  brother  Hugh,  married 
Nicholas  de  Cantelupe.*  Nicholas  was  the  fourth  son  of  William 
de  Cantelupe,  of  Bowden  and  Harborough,  Leicester.  He  was 
living  in  1275. t  Nicholas  de  Cantelupe,  of  Ilkeston,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son  William,  who  died  in  1309  ;J  and  he,  again,  by 
a  son  of  the  same  name.  An  inquisition  of  1321  states  that 
William  held  the  manor  and  advowson  of  Ilkeston ;  the  latter 
being  of  the  annual  value  of  twenty-one  marks.  §  William  de 
Cantelupe  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Nicholas,  the  founder  of 
Beauvale  Priory ;  he  died  in  1355,  leaving  a  son  and  heir 
also  named  Nicholas.  This  Nicholas  died  without  issue  in  1372, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  William,  who  also  died  issueless 
in  1376,  seized  of  both  manor  and  advowson.  |] 

William,  Lord  Zouch  of  Harringworth,  then  inherited  the  estate, 
his  great-grandfather  having  been  the  son  of  Millicent,  younger 
sister  and  co-heir  of  George  Cantelupe,  granddaughter  of  William 

*  Dugdale's  Monasticon,  vol.  i.,  pp.  962,  963. 

t  Quo   Warranto  and  Hundred  Bolls;     Nichols'  Leicestershire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  493; 
Dugdale's  Baronage  ;  Nichols'  Collectanea,  etc. 
I  Inq.  post  Mort.,  2  Edward  II.,  No.  51. 
§  Inq.  ad  quod  Damnum,  14  Edw.  II.,  No.  131. 
,|  Inq.  post  Mort.,  45  Edw.  III.,  No.  13;  49  Edw.  III.,  No.  28. 

18 


258  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

de    Cantelupe,     eldest    brother    of    the    first-named    Nicholas,    who 
settled  at  Ilkeston. 

On  the  attainder  of  John,  Lord  Zouch,  for  complicity  with 
Eichard  III.,  Ilkeston  was  granted  by  Henry  VII,  in  1485,  to 
Sir  John  Savage.  It  remained  in  that  family  until  1608,  when  it 
was  purchased  of  Sir  Thomas  Savage  by  Sir  John  Manners,  whose 
descendant,  the  Duke  of  Eutland,  still  holds  it. 

William,  Lord  Zouch,  died  in  1381,  seized,  inter  alia,  of  the 
advowson  of  Ilkeston  church.  *  His  son  and  heir,  William,  who 
died  in  1396,t  was  seized  of  the  manor  of  Ilkeston,  having 
conferred  the  rectory  in  1386  on  the  neighbouring  abbey  of  Dale.| 
The  vicarage  remained  in  the  gift  of  the  abbot  of  Dale  until  the 
dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  when  the  advowson,  together  with 
the  appropriated  tithes,  were  granted  to  Savage,  and  thence  passed 
by  purchase  to  Manners. 

The  rectory  was  valued  at  £14  per  annum  in  1291.  The  Valor 
Ecclesiasticus  (24  Henry  VIII.)  gives  the  clear  annual  value  of  the 
vicarage  at  £5  7s.  9d. ;  the  value  of  the  rectory  cannot  be 
accurately  given,  as  it  is  stated  collectively  with  the  mediety  of 
Egginton,  the  two  together  averaging  £19  6s.  8d. ;  but  only  a 
clear  value — after  deducting  various  charges  to  the  Bishop  and 
Chapter  of  Lichfield,  etc.— of  £11  19s.  Od. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  drew  up  the 
following  inventory  at  this  church : — 

"Ilkeston.     Oct.  5.     Sir  Wyll.  Carter  vicar  &  curatte. 

j  challes  of  sylver  parcell  gylt — iij  corporas  clothes — iij  vestments— iij  albes — j  of 
y*  vestments  of  red  velvet,  y6  odder  ij  of  sylke  party  collers — j  cope  of  grene 
sylke — j  crosse  of  copper — iiij  auter  clothes — vj  towels — iij  of  dyaper  &  iij  of 
lynen— ij  towells  wolle,  &  j  broken — a  sanctus  bell— j  house!!  bell — ij  holy  water 
fatts — ij  cruetts — ij  candlestykes  of  latten — a  per  of  scensures — j  canybe  — j  pyx  of 
coper — j  bybeil  &  a  boke  of  mynistration." 

The  following  is  the  brief  report  of  the  Parliamentary  Commis- 
sion, of  1650 : — "  Hkestone  is  a  viccaridge  really  worth  sixteene 
pounds  per  annum.  Mr.  Fox  is  minister  and  scandalous." 

The  subjoined  list  of  rectors  and  vicars  is  chiefly  compiled  from 
the  Lichfield  Eegisters  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office: — 

*  Inq.  post  Mort.,  5  Hie.  II.,  No.  62. 

t  Inq.  post  Mort.,  19  Ric.  II.,  No.  52. 

J  Pat.  Rot.,  9  Ric.  II.,  pt.  1,  memb.  34.  It  was  not  granted  direct  to  the  abbey ;  but, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  statutes  of  Mortmain,  it  was  in  the  first  instance  transferred  to 
Hugo  de  Wyloughby,  John  Pole  de  Nuburgh,  William  de  Sallowe  de  Stanton,  Henry 
Coton  (rector  of  Aston),  Richard  (rector  of  Hanstort),  and  John  de  Halnm.  These 
trustees  thereupon  transferred  it  to  the  abbey.  The  patent  is  dated  at  York  on  July 
21st. 


ILKESTON.  259 

BECTOBS. 

1315.  William  .     .     . ;   leave  of  absence  for  sickness. 

1322.  William   de   Loseow;    patron,  Nicholas   de   Cantelupe.     On  the   death   of 

William,  the  last  rector. 
1334.  John  de  Kendale ;    patron,  Nicholas  de  Cantelupe.     On  the  resignation  of 

W.  de  L. 
1341.  Thomas   de   Saxeby ;    patron,  Nicholas    de    Cantelupe.     On   the  death   of 

J.  de  K. 
1349.  William  de  Broydeston;   patron,  Nicholas  de  Cantelupe.     On  the  death  of 

T.  de  S. 
1351.  William  de  Lynton;   patron,  Nicholas  de  Cantelupe.     On  the  resignation  of 

W.  de  B. 
1375.  Stephen  de  Cundale  ;     patron,  William  de  Cantelupe.      On  the  death  of 

W.  de  L. 

VICARS. 

1391.  Hugo  de  Thurgarton,  canon  of  Dale;    patron,  Abbot  of  Dale. 

1402.  John,  son  of  Simon  de  Ilkeston.     On  the  resignation  of  H.  de  T. 

1418.  Richard  de  Ilkeston. 

1438.  John  Spencer. 

1446.  Robert  Edmond.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  S. 

.    Richard  Nottingham. 

1497.  Robert  Brownlow.     On  the  death  of  R.  N. 
1510.  Robert  Aston.     On  the  death  of  B.  B. 
(1536).  William  Carter.     Valor  Ecclesiasticus. 

.  William  Parker. 
1568.  John  Wyttes;   patron,  Sir  John  Savage      On  the  death  of  W.  P. 

.  Thomas  Howell. 

1573.  Richard  Seyrdan(?);  patron,  Sir  John  Savage.    On  the  resignation  of  T.  H. 
1629.  Thomas  Lowe;   patron,  Grace,  Lady" Manners,  widow. 
1633.  William  Hope;   patron,  Grace,  Lady  Manners,  widow. 
(1650).  Mr.  Pox.    Parliamentary  Commission. 
(1710).  Humphrey  Courtman.     Bassano's  MSS. 
1736.  Matthew  Birch. 

1748.  George  Allen;   patron,  the  Duke  of  Rutland. 

1802.  Jervase  Brown;   collated  by  the  Bishop  through  lapse  of    time.     On  the 
death  of  G.  A. 

.  George  Searl  Ebsworth. 
1863.  James  Horsburgh;    patron,  the  Duke  of  Rutland.     On  the  resignation  of 

G.  S.  E. 
1873.  J.  F.  N.  Eyre ;    patron,  the  Duke  of  Rutland. 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Mary,  consists  of  a  nave 
with  side  aisles,  a  large  chancel  with  north  aisle  or  chapel,  and  a 
tower  at  the  west  end.  The  dimensions  of  the  area  of  the  church, 
according  to  Mr.  Rawlins,  who  was  here  in  1825,  are : — Nave, 
43  ft.  5  in.  by  19  ft.  10  in. ;  north  aisle,  44  ft.  10  in.  by  14  ft. ; 
south  aisle,  42  ft.  6  in.  by  13  ft.  3  in. ;  and  chancel,  46  ft.  3  in. 
by  24  ft.  1  in. 

The  west  end  of  this  church  used  to  be  graced  by  a  lofty  tower, 
surmounted  by  a  lead-covered  spire.  Mr.  Wolley,  writing  about 
1716,  says: — "The  church  has  a  spire  steeple  covered  with  lead, 


260  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

which  suffered  extremely  in  the  Hurricane  in  the  year  1714,  and 
in  the  chancel  there  is  an  old  monument  supposed  to  be  a 
Cantelupe.  On  the  east  side  the  liberty,  on  the  High  Eoad  from 
Wirksworth  to  Nottingham,  stands  a  pair  of  gallows  which  the 
Inhabitants  are  obliged  to  keep  in  repair,  they  say  by  that  they 
hold  the  privilege  of  Gaunt  fee.:|:  At  the  south-west  end  of  the 
town  is  a  Eow  of  Alms  Houses,  but  not  endowed.  There  was 
another  chancel,  but  it  is  taken  down  and  the  monuments 
lie  bare  in  the  churchyard."  t  In  the  year  1723,  money  was 
collected  by  Brief  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  tower,  the  estimated 
cost  being  £1,350.  But  the  moneys  came  in  slowly,  and  it  was 
not  until  1731  that  a  new  tower  was  built.  From  a  sketch 
of  this  church,  taken  by  Mr.  Meynell  in  1814,  we  find  that  the 
new  tower  was  of  the  debased,  incongruous  style  then  affected. 
It  had  round-headed  bell-chamber  windows,  and  a  plain  parapet 
with  pinnacles  at  the  four  angles.  Its  height  was  upwards  of 
seventy-five  feet.  The  "other  chancel"  of  which  Mr.  Wolley 
speaks  was  the  large  north  chapel  or  chancel  aisle.  Mr.  Eawlius, 
who  was  here  in  1825,  says : — "  On  the  north  side  of  the  chancel 
was  originally  an  aisle,  which  a  few  years  since  gave  way  in  the 
foundations.  The  Duke  of  Rutland  used  to  repair  this  aisle, 
but  room  being  wanted  to  enlarge  the  churchyard,  it  was  never 
restored."  Instead  of  being  "  a  few  years,"  we  know  from  Wolley's 
MS.  that  this  aisle  had  disappeared  more  than  a  century  earlier; 
but  it  is  interesting  to  find  that  the  repairs  used  to  be  in  the 
Manners  family,  which  tends  to  prove  that  this  chapel  was  erected 
by  the  Cantelupes,  probably  to  serve  as  a  mortuary  chapel,  and 
for  a  chantry  altar  for  Masses  for  their  souls.  It  has  been  con- 
jectured that  this  beautiful  addition  to  the  chancel  was  made  circa 
1360,  by  Joan,  relict  and  second  wife  of  Nicholas  de  Cantelupe, 
founder  of  Beauvale  Priory.  In  32  Edward  HI.,  she  "founded  a 
Chantry  for  five  priests,  in  honour  of  St.  Peter  the  Apostle,  for 
the  health  of  the  soul  of  the  said  Nicholas  de  Cantelupe,  her 
husband,  ner  own  soul,  and  the  souls  of  all  the  faithful  deceased.":}: 
The  arcade  of  three  arches,  separating  this  chantry  from  the 

*  A  passage  in  Farey's  Survey  of  Derbyshire  (vol.  iii.,  p.  632),  published  in  1815, 
explains  this : — "  The  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Ilkeston  maintains  a  Gallows  (on  which 
I  could  not  learn  that  anyone  was  ever  hanged)  near  the  Erewash  River  and  county 
bounds,  on  the  East  of  the  Town ;  in  order,  as  is  said,  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Manor  may  avail  themselves  of  a  Charter,  of  John  of  Gaunt,  for  paying  only  half  of 
the  usual  Tolls  in  any  of  the  Markets  or  Fairs  of  the  Kingdom." 

f  Wolley's  MS.  History  of  Derbyshire,  circa  1716 ;  at  the  College  of  Arms. 

£  Glover's  History  of  Ilkeston  and  Shipley :  Derby,  1831.  But  we  do  not  know 
whence  Glover  got  this  information,  and  much  doubt  a  foundation  of  five  priests  in 
this  church. 


ILKESTON.  261 

chancel,  was  not  destroyed,  but  simply  walled  up ;  and  a  good 
pointed  doorway  removed  from  the  old  outer  wall,  and  inserted 
in  the  new  one.  The  capitals  and  columns  of  the  arcade  showed 
on  each  side  of  the  masonry.  This  arcade — re-opened  and  repaired 
in  1855 — is  of  singular  beauty;  the  capitals  of  the  clustered  piers 
being  moulded  into  elegant  foliage,  having  characteristics  of  the 
human  face  (Plate  VIII). 

The  church  underwent  a  thorough,  and,  in  many  respects,  most 
unfortunate  "  restoration "  in  1855,  when  the  outer  walls  of  the 
north  and  south  nave  aisles  were  taken  down  and  rebuilt ;  and 
the  tower,  west  end  of  the  aisles,  south  chancel  vestry,  and  north 
chancel  aisle  built  new,  but  on  the  old  foundations.  The  tower, 
beneath  which  is  the  principal  entrance  to  the  church,  is  a  preten- 
tious affair,  but  singularly  poor  and  bald  in  all  its  details.  A 
glance  at  the  carving  of  the  capitals  of  the  shafts  in  the  jambs  of 
the  west  doorway  is  sufficient  to  prove  the  character  of  the  work. 
The  vestry  on  the  south  of  the  chancel  is  said  to  be  built  on  old 
foundations;  and  Sir  Stephen  Glynn,  who  was  here  three  years 
before  the  restoration,  remarks  that  "  the  priests'  door  south  of 
the  chancel  is  set  curiously  sideways  within  a  large  exterior  arch, 
as  presented  externally."  It  would  therefore  appear  that  there  was 
also  at  one  time  a  south  chancel  chapel.  In  a  pamphlet,  issued 
when  the  restoration  of  the  church  was  in  contemplation,  it  is 
said  that  there  was  originally  a  sacristy  on  the  south  side  of  the 
chancel.  But  sacristies  are  hardly  ever  found  on  that  side  of  the 
chancel,  and  no  such  building  would  require  a  large  archway 
opening  into  it. 

The  lofty  arcade  of  three  arches  that  divides  the  nave  from  the 
south  aisle  is  specially  interesting,  being  of  the  transition  period 
from  Norman  to  Early  English,  about  the  time  of  Eichard  I.  The 
pillars  are  circular,  and  the  arches,  which  only  just  partake  of  any 
pointed  character,  are  ornamented  with  the  chevron  pattern  and 
an  outer  moulding  of  the  nail-head  device.  The  arcade  between 
the  nave  and  the  north  aisle  is  supported  on  lofty  octagonal 
pillars  with  plainly-moulded  capitals,  and  is  of  Decorated  date,  but 
early  in  the  style.  The  windows  of  both  the  aisles  are  also  of 
that  style,  circa  1300,  but  were  rebuilt  in  1855.  The  old  patterns 
were  not  very  carefully  followed.  The  spacious  chancel  is  also  of 
good  Transitional  character,  of  the  last  quarter  of  the  thirteenth 
century;  but  the  alterations  of  1855  were  here  also  apparently  of 
an  unnecessarily  extensive  character. 


262  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  small  piscina  niche.  In 
the  north  wall  of  the  north  aisle,  near  the  east  end,  is  a  shallow 
sepulchral  or  founder's  recess,  quite  plain.  "  The  font,"  says  Sir 
Stephen  Glynn,  "has  an  octagonal  plain  bowl,  upon  a  raised  base 
and  kneeling  step."  From  Mr.  Meynell's  drawing,  we  judge  it  to 
have  been  coeval  with  the  south  nave  arcade.  In  1855,  this  font 
disappeared,  and  we  have  not  been  able  to  trace  what  became  of 
it.  The  one  now  in  use  is  a  modern  effort,  with  a  good  deal 
of  carving  about  it.  The  taste  or  reverence  of  those  who  would 
substitute  a  new  for  an  old  font,  however  plain  the  workmanship 
of  the  latter,  is  not  to  be  envied. 

Against  the  south  chancel  wall  is  a  row  of  three  sedilia,  and  a 
double  piscina.  The  good  and  noteworthy  workmanship  of  these, 
circa  1280-90,  can  be  better  learnt  from  Plate  XII.  than  from  any 
verbal  description. 

There  is  a  remarkable  stone  screen,  dividing  the  chancel  from 
the  nave,  having  five  cinquefoiled,  arched  compartments,  with 
pierced  quatrefoils  in  the  spandrels,  and  grey  marble  shafts,  of 
circular  form,  with  moulded  capitals  and  bases,  the  whole  resting 
upon  a  stone  wall  (Plate  VIII).  The  doorway  occupies  the  centre 
arch,  and  has  its  shafts  rising  from  the  ground.  This  screen  has 
been  repaired  at  various  times.  The  mouldings  of  the  capitals  and 
bases  of  one  or  two  of  the  columns,  which  are  original,  appear  to 
be  of  Early  English  character,  but  the  general  style  of  the  work- 
manship and  the  details  of  the  tracery  show  that  it  is  co-eval 
with  most  of  the  chancel  work,  viz.,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Decorated  period.  It  has  been  thought  by  some  that  the  marble 
shafts  were  not  originally  designed  for  the  screen,  but  have  been 
removed  from  older  window  jambs ;  but  we  see  no  reason  for  such 
a  supposition,  which  would  be  entirely  contrary  to  the  use  of 
medieval  architects. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  is  an  altar  tomb,  bearing  the 
effigy  of  a  knight,  wearing  a  hood  of  mail  (Plate  VIII).  His  feet 
rest  on  a  lion,  and  he  has  prick  spurs.  The  sword-belt  is  studded. 
Only  part  of  the  sword  is  now  left,  and  the  small  lion  on  which 
the  sword-point  originally  rested.  On  the  left  arm  is  a  large 
shield,  bearing  the  arms  of  Cantelupe — a  fesse  vaire  between  three 
fleurs-de-lis.  The  sides  of  the  monument  are  panelled  into  a  series 
of  trefoiled  niches,  in  the  spandrels  of  which  are  small,  uncharged 
shields.  Nicholas  de  Cantelupe,  first  Lord  of  Ilkeston  of  that 
name,  died  circa  1275-80,  and  his  son  William  in  1307.  This 


PLATE     XI 


ILKESTON.  263 

monumeiit  pertains,  we  believe,  to  one  or  other  of  these  knights ; 
and  from  the  general  details  and  character  of  the  work,  we  are 
inclined  to  think  that  it  is  to  Sir  Nicholas.  Previous  to  1855, 
this  monument  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  chancel,  of  which  Sir 
Nicholas  was  probably  the  founder.  Mr.  Meynell  speaks  of  it 
being  "  very  perfect,  excepting  that  it  has  be'en  repeatedly  white- 
washed;" adding — "a  short  time  since  the  bones  were  taken  up; 
they  were  near  the  surface  in  a  sort  of  coffin  made  of  several 
stones,  and  the  legs  were  crossed  as  upon  the  monument,  but  no 
inscription  could  be  found.  The  bones  were  very  perfect,  and  the 
teeth  particularly  sound  and  fresh.  I  had  this  account  from  the 
clerk  of  the  parish  in  1814."* 

The  same  gentleman  gives  a  drawing  of  another  raised  tomb  on 
the  north  side  of  the  altar,  the  upper  slab  of  which  was  of 
Purbeck  marble,  but  the  brasses  had  been  taken  from  it.  Sir 
Stephen  Glynn  describes  (in  1852)  the  sides  of  this  tomb  as  being 
of  alabaster,  and  "having  pierced  arches,  which  are  trefoiled  and 
hollow  within — there  are  three  arches  on  the  sides  and  two  at  the 
ends."  This  interesting  tomb  disappeared  at  the  "restoration." 

Mr.  Meynell  also  makes  mention  of  two  brass  plates  to  Francis 
Gregge,  gentleman,  1667,  and  to  Eobert  Gregge,  gentleman,  1680. 
"The  church  having  undergone  some  alterations  the  above  monu- 
ments of  the  Gregge  family  are  removed,  but  the  brasses  are  in 
the  possession  of  the  clerk."  Where  are  they  now?  He  further 
mentions  several  more  modern  inscriptions  that  cannot  now  be 
found,  concluding  with  the  remark — "These  appear  to  be  all  the 
inscriptions  now  remaining,  but  many  are  removed  and  lately 
destroyed."  The  destruction  of  monuments  in  this  church  certainly 
seems  to  have  been  peculiarly  wanton,  even  for  Derbyshire. 

This  church  was  visited  heraldically  on  August  21st,  1662,  by 
Dugdale  and  Ashmole.  The  notes  of  the  latter  are  as  follow : — 
"  In  the  midle  of  the  Chancell  is  a  raised  monumen*  having 
thereon  a  Knight  lying  at  length  cross  leg'd  in  Male,  &  on  the 
left  arme  a  Shield  wth  this  Coat  of  Armes  (a  fesse  vaire  between 
three  fleur-de-lis).  Under  the  uppermost  arch  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Chancel  is  a  raised  monum*  having  a  large  marble  for  the  top 
stone,  whereon  seems  to  have  been  ye  Portraiture  of  a  Clergyman 

*  This  was  not  the  first  time  of  the  unseemly  disturbance  of  this  knight's  bones. 
Bassano,  writing  in  1710,  says : — "  Under  ye  tomb  is  a  stoue  coffin  with  large  white 
bones  in  it,  as  appeared  when  opened  by  Isaac  Gregory,  ye  present  clerk  of  ye 
church.  A  chale  (jaw)  bone  taken  out  of  ye  coffin  was  so  wide  y*  it  sliped  over  y« 
chale  of  a  lusty  full  man.  Test.  Humphrey  Courtman,  Vicar." 


264  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

in  his  habitt,*  but  y°  Brass  is  stolen  away.  In  the  East  window 
of  the  South  Isle  (1)  gu.,  a  fesse  vaire,  arv/.f  and  az.,  between 
three  fleur-de-lis,  or,  (2)  arg.,  a  cross,  gu.,  and  (3)  az.,  three 
crowns,  or.  In  the  window  of  the  North  Isle*  arg.,  a  saltire,  gu., 
(2)  chequy  az.,  and  or,  a  canton,  erm.  This  Church  seemes  to 
have  been  very  ancient,  all  the  Arches  in  the  south  side  of  the 
body  of  the  Church  are  semicircular,  and  the  worke  indented. 
The  Windowes  and  Pillars  of  the  Chancell  are  of  excellent  neate 
worke."  J 

Bassano  visited  the  church  in  1710,  when  only  one  of  the  coats 
mentioned  above  remained  in  the  window,  and  that  has  long  since 
disappeared.  There  was  then  a  stone  coffin  against  the  recess 
already  noticed  in  the  north  wall  of  the  north  nave  aisle ;  and 
Bassano  also  noticed  lions  carved  on  some  of  the  seats  in  the 
chancel. 

In  the  vestry  is  an  oak  parish  chest,  the  carving  on  which 
shows  that  it  dates  from  the  Perpendicular  period.  On  the  Holy 
Table  are  carved  the  words  : — "  Ex  dono  Thome  Harrison,  qui  obiit 
Octobris  Anno  Domini  1622." 

The  tower  contains  a  ring  of  five  bells  : — 

L  "Prosperity  to  all  my  benefactors,  1732,"  and  the  bell-mark 
of  Abraham  Kudhall,  of  Gloucester. 

II.  "God  save  His  Church,  1660,"  and  the  bell-mark  of  George 
Oldfield. 

HI.  "All  glory  bee  to  God  on  high,  1660,"  and  the  bell-mark 
of  George  Oldfield. 

IV.  "Prosperity  to  this   Parish,    1749,"    and    the  bell-mark  of 
Abraham  Kudhall. 

V.  "Robert  Skevington   &    Sam1   Taylor,  Ch :   Wardens,    1732," 
and  the  bell-mark  of  Abraham  Eudhall. 

The  registers,  according  to  the  Parliamentary  Eeturn,  begin  in 
1586,  but  are  defective  between  1670  and  1679. 


*  Bodleian  Library,  Ashm.  MSS.,  854;  also  Dugdale's  Visitation  of  Derbyshire, 
1662-4  (in  the  College  of  Arms),  f.  101. 

t  Dugdale  gives  the  vaire  or  and  an. 

t  Walter  Cantelupe,  brother  of  the  first  Sir  Nicholas,  was  Bishop  of  Worcester 
from  1237  to  1266.  Bassano  states  that  this  tomb  pertained,  by  tradition,  to  the 
Cantelupes,  and  there  was  in  his  time  a  pastoral  staff  in  brass  still  remaining. 


Kirfe 


jjHE  manor  of  Langley  was  held,  according  to  the  Domes- 
day Book,  by  Levenot,  under  Ealph  Fitz-Hubert.  There 
is  no  record  at  that  date  of  a  church.  The  manor  at  an 
early  period  was  divided  into  two  moieties,  one  of  which  became 
known  as  Kirk  or  Church  Langley,  from  having  a  church  fabric  on 
the  estate  ;  and  the  other  as  Meynell  Langley,  from  the  name  of 
the  proprietor.  At  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Henry  III., 
1218,  Kirk  Langley  was  held  by  one  Nicholas.  To  him  succeeded 
his  son,  Eobert  Fitz-Nicholas,  who  died  in  the  last  year  of  Henry 
III.'s  long  reign.  He  died  without  issue,  and  the  jury,  at  the 
inquisition  after  his  death,  found  that  his  nephew,  Ealph  Pipard, 
then  aged  28,  the  son  of  Ealph  Fitz-Nicholas,  was  his  heir.  He 
died  seized  of  landed  property  at  Thurvaston,  Etwall,  and  Eggin- 
ton,  as  well  as  of  the  manor  of  "  Chirche  Longley "  and  the 
advowson  of  its  church  ;  the  rectory  being  valued  by  the  jury  at 
twenty  marks  per  annum.*  Names  at  this  period  were  changed 
with  much  caprice,  according  to  the  residence  of  the  individual. 
It  has  generally  been  supposed  that  a  Fitz-Nicholas  sold  this 
manor  to  a  Pipard  ;  but  the  inquisition  that  we  have  just  quoted 
shows  that  Ealph,  the  son  of  Ealph  and  nephew  of  Eobert  Fitz- 
Nicholas,  inherited  it  by  descent.  It  would  seem  that  he  had 
assumed  the  name  of  Pipard  from  having  resided,  previously  to 
his  becoming  heir  to  his  uncle,  at  Eotherfield-Pipard,  in  Oxford- 
shire ;  or  possibly  from  having  married  an  heiress  of  the  Pipards, 
who  gave  their  name  to  that  place  ;  for  the  Pipards  are  said  to 
have  originally  sprung  from  a  hamlet  of  that  name  in  Somerset- 

*  Inq.  post.  Mort.,  1  Edw.  L,  No.  19. 


268  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

shire.  Robert  Fitz-Nicholas  had  also  owned  the  manor  of 
Twyford,*  in  Buckinghamshire,  which  his  nephew,  Ealph  Pipard, 
also  inherited,  and  of  which  he  was  seized  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1310.t  Twyford,  Bucks.,  was  one  of  the  most  important 
of  their  manors,  and  hence  the  heir  of  Ralph  assumed  that  name 
in  preference  to  Pipard,  and  was  known  as  John  de  Twyford. 

The  manor  of  Kirk  Langley,  together  with  the  advowson  of  the 
rectory,  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Twyford  or  de  Twyford 
family  until  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.,  when  Henry  Pole,  of 
Chesterfield,  son  of  Peter  Pole,  of  Heage,  married  Ursula,  the 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Thomas  Twyford,  who  died  in  1522. 
Henry  Pole  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  of  the  same  name,  who 
died  in  1558.  He  died  without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother  Augustine,  whose  son,  German  Pole,  sold  the  manor  of 
Kirk  Langley  to  the  Bassets  of  Blore,  then  also  lords  of  Meynell 
Langley,  and  the  two  manors  were  for  the  most  part  subsequently 
held  together.^  William  Basset  married  Judith,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Osten,  and  widow  of  William  Boothby.  On  the  death 
of  her  second  husband,  she  was  married  to  Sir  Richard  Corbett, 
of  Morton  Corbett,  Shropshire.  We  find  Lady  Corbett  presenting 
to  the  rectory  of  Kirk  Langley  both  in  1619  and  in  1621.  By 
her  second  husband,  William  Basset,  she  had  one  daughter,  first 
married  to  Henry  Howard,  son  of  the  Earl  of  Suffolk  (by  whom 
she  had  a  daughter,  married  to  Sir  John  Harpur,  of  Swarkeston), 
and  secondly,  to  William,  Earl  and  afterwards  first  Duke  of 
Newcastle.  On  the  Restoration,  the  Earl  of  Newcastle  presented 
to  this  rectory.  In  the  eighteenth  century  the  advowson  and  next 
presentation  were  repeatedly  sold ;  but  during  the  present  century 
it  has  been  in  the  gift  of  the  Meynells  of  Meynell  Langley. 

The  following  list  of  rectors  is  chiefly  compiled  from  the  Lich- 
field  Registers  and  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office  : — 

.  William  de  Henoure. 

1340.  Nicholas  de  Over;  patron,  Sir  John  de  Twyford.  On  the  death  of  W.  de  H. 
1349.  William  de  Curson ;  patron,  Robert  de  Twyford.  On  the  death  of  N.  de  O. 
1357.  Hugo  de  Bolton ;  patron,  Robert  de  Twyford.  On  the  resignation  of 

W.  de  C. 

1391.  William  Mackworth;  patron,  Robert,  son  of  Robert  de  Twyford. 
(1411.)  William  Arrowsmythe. 

.  John  Papenham. 
1474.  Eichard  Rolston ;  patron,  Walter  Twyford.     On  the  death  of  J.  P. 

*  Placita  Quo  Warranto,  Com.  Bucks,  p.  87. 
t  Inq.  post  Mort.,  3  Edw.  II.,  No.  25. 

I  Meynell  MSS      Throughout  this  account  of  Kirk  Langley  church  we  are  greatly 
indebted  to  the  valuable  MSS.  of  the  late  Godfrey  Meynell,  Esq. 


KIRK   LANGLEY.  269 

1496.  Ralph  Shepard ;   patron,  Thomas  Twyford.      On  the  resignation  of  R.  R. 

The  new  vicar  pledges  himself  on  the  Gospels  to  give  an  annual  pension  of 

four  marks  to  his  predecessor  pro  victu  et  vestitu. 
1508.  Robert  Middulton  ;   patron,  Thomas  Twyford.     On  the  death  of  R.  S. 

.  John  Rayne. 

1518.  Ralph  Hygden  ;   patron,  Thomas  Twyford.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  R. 
1553.  Robert  Prestwyche  ;   patron,  Henry  Pole,  de  Wytheoke,  Leicester.     On  the 

death  of  R.  H. 
1556.  Ralph  Wrigley ;   patrons,   Henry  de  Pole  and   Dorothy  his  wife.      On  the 

deprivation  of  R.  P. 

1619.  Thomas  Godwin  ;  patron,  Judith  Corbett,  widow.     On  the  death  of      .      . 
1621.  James  Hulmes  ;   patron,  Judith  Corbett,  widow.      On  the  death  of  T.  G. 
1644.  Francis  AUsop.     Buried  February  22nd,  1656.     Parish  Registers. 
1656.  Robert  Seddon.* 
1662.  Thomas  Meynell  ;f   patron,  William,  Earl  of  Newcastle.      On  the  ejection 

of  R.  S. 
1706.  Charles  Wilmot ;    patrons,  Robert  Wilmot,  and  Robert  Wilmot,  junr.      On 

the  death  of  T.  M. 

1724.  William  Daniel ;   patron,  Godfrey  Meynell.      On  the  death  of  C.  W. 
1747.  John  Bayley  ;   patron,  Richard  Bayley,  for  this  turn. 
1768.  William  Cant ;   patron,  John  Marsh. 
1789.  Edward  Pole  ;   patron,   William  Bayley  Cant,  a  minor,  by  the  advice  and 

approval  of  John  Morse,  his  guardian.      On  the  death  of  W.  C. 
1791.  David  Francis  Curzon  ;   patron,  William  Bayley  Cant. 
1794.  Edward  SachevereU  Wilmot ;  patron,  Edward  SachevereU  Wilmot. 
1809.  John  Ward ;  patron,  Godfrey  Meynell.      On  the  death  of  E.  S.  W. 
1820.  Henry  James  Feilden  ;   patron,  Godfrey  Meynell.     On  the  death  of  J.  W 

The  Taxation  Boll  of  1291  valued  this  rectory  at  £12  per* 
annum — a  considerable  increase  on  the  valuation  at  the  death  of 
Robert  Fitz-Nicholas.  The  Valor  Ecclesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.) 
gives  the  clear  annual  value  at  £12  Is.  9d. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  say: — 

"  Kyrkelangley.    Oct.  1.    Raulf  Higdon  parson. 

"j  chalys  of  sylver  parcell  guylt— j  pyxe  of  pure  metal — ij  corporas  with 
cases — iij  alter  clothes — iiij  chesables,  whereof  j  of  redde  velvet  old  and  worne,  j 
other  of  blewe  silke  of  antyke  worke,  j  other  of  tany  sylke  of  same  worke— j 
other  of  whyte  damaske — j  albe  with  the  armes  whole — ij  other  albes  old  and 

*  Robert  Seddon,  M.A.,  of  Christ's  College,  Cambridge,  was  of  Prestwich,  Lanca- 
shire. He  was  first  minister  at  Gorton  chapel,  whence  he  proceeded  to  Kirk  Langley. 
"  He  was  a  Man  of  great  Piety,  Patience,  and  Meekness.  .  .  .  He  was  so  far 
concem'd  in  appearing  for  the  King,  at  a  day  known  in  this  County  by  Wldte-Fryday 
(because  one  White  was  the  Leading  Man  who  appear'd  at  Derby  for  the  King)  that 
he  was  forc'd  to  fly  into  Lancashire  to  Sir  George  Booth,  who  rose  at  the  same  time, 
and  was  Threatn'd  to  be  carried  to  London  to  be  Try'd  for  his  Life,  but  the  King's 
coming  in  prevented  that.  After  his  Ejectment,  he  was  for  many  years  in  the  Family 
of  Samuel  Hallows,  Esq.,  and  when  Liberty  was  granted  Anno  Primo  Gulielmi  et 
Mui-ice,  he  Preach'd  in  his  course  with  some  other  Ministers  at  Derby,  being  on  other 
Days  imploy'd  in  Places  Adjacent.  In  King  Charles'  time  coming  up  to  London,  he 
was  taken  up  as  he  was  preaching  in  Mr.  Baxter's  Pulpit :  and  notwithstanding  that 
he  had  before  suffer'd  Imprisonment  from  the  Cromwelhans  for  seeking  to  bring  in 
the  King,  yet  he  was  sent  to  Gaol,  where  he  contiuu'd  some  time."  Eventually  he 
returned  to  Lancashire,  residing  chiefly  at  Bolton.  He  died  in  1695,  aged  77. 
Calamy's  Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  167. 

t  He  was  made  Prebendary  of  Whittington  and  Baswich,  Lichfield  Cathedral,  in 
1676.  Harwood's  History  of  Lichfield,  p.  254. 


270      .  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

torne — ij  coopes,  j  of  skarlet,  j  other  of  tany  silke  olde  and  torne — j  serples — j 
holy  water  stocke  of  brasse— j  hand  bell — ij  bells  in  the  steple — ij  lytle  candel- 
stycks  of  brasse — ij  lytle  bells  and  j  bell  in  the  steple  for  the  w°h  iiij  li.  ys  owing 
to  Ser  Raulf  Uygdon." 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  Parliamentary  Commissioners 
of  1650  : — "  Kirk  Langley  is  a  parsonage  really  worth  three  score 
pounds  per  annum.  Mr.  Francis  Alsop  Incumbent  able  preacher 
and  of  godly  conversason. " 

The  church  at  Kirk  Langley,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Michael, 
consists  of  nave,  north  and  south  aisles,  chancel,  and  tower  at  the 
west  end.  Mr.  Bawlins  gives  the  following  as  its  dimensions : — 
Nave,  40  ft.  9  in.  by  19  ft.  4  in.  ;  north  aisle,  34  ft.  3  in.  by 
12  ft.  3  in.  ;  south  aisle,  56  ft.  5  ,in.  by  15  ft.  9  in.  ;  and 
chancel,  37  ft.  10  in.  by  17  ft.  2  in. 

By  far  the  greater  part  of  the  present  fabric  is  of  the  Decorated 
style,  circa  1800-1320,  when  the  church  was  evidently  rebuilt 
throughout.  The  nave  is  divided  from  the  aisles  by  arcades,  each 
consisting  of  three  rather  low  pointed  arches,  supported  on  octagon 
pillars.  The  north  wall  of  the  north  aisle  is  lighted  by  five  two- 
light  pointed  windows,  plain  intersecting  tracery,  without  any 
foliation.  Up  to  1839,  the  chief  entrance  was  on  the  north  side 
of  the  church,  where  there  was  a  porch,  and  one  of  these  windows 
now  occupies  its  place.  The  east  window  of  this  aisle  is  of  the 
same  character,  but  of  three  lights.  There  was  a  single  lancet 
window  at  the  west  end  of  this  aisle,  where  there  are  some  traces 
still  visible  in  the  masonry  of  the  previous  aisle  of  the  Early 
English  period.  The  chancel  arch  is  pointed,  on  octagonal  shafts. 
On  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  are  two  two-light  windows  like 
those  of  the  north  aisle,  and  one  of  a  single  light  ;  also  a  priest's 
doorway,  and  another  small  doorway,  built  up,  near  to  the  east 
end.*  The  use  of  this  latter  doorway  is  somewhat  puzzling ;  we 
conjecture  that  there  has  at  some  time  been  a  small  vestry  on  this 
side  of  the  chancel.  The  east  window  is  of  four  principal  lights, 
with  a  quatrefoil  in  the  apex  of  the  gable.  There  are  three 
blocked-up  two-light  windows  on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel, 
which  correspond  to  those  in  the  north  wall,  but  are  shorter, 
owing  to  their  being  placed  over  the  sedilia.  The  three  sedilia 
are  of  good  character,  with  trefoiled  heads  and  clustered  shafts. 
There  is  a  piscina  beyond  them.  In  the  opposite  wah1  is  a  square 

*  This  doorway  is  filled  up  externally  by  a  large  stone  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev. 
E.  S.  Wilmot,  patron  and  rector  of  this  church,  who  died  in  1809. 


KIRK    LANGLEY.  271 

almery  recess.  One  of  the  sedilia  has  been  opened  out  so  as  to 
form  a  doorway  into  a  specially  obtrusive  and  ill-placed  vestry. 
An  inscription  states  that  "  This  vestry  was  erected  by  Godfrey 
Meynell  A.D.  MDCCCXXIV."  *  There  is  another  two-light  south 
chancel  window,  which  is  now  cut  down  and  open,  so  as  to  com- 
municate with  the  extended  east  end  of  the  south  aisle,  where  the 
organ  is  placed.  The  archway  at  the  west  end  of  the  church  into 
the  tower,  which  rests  on  corbels,  is  also,  like  all  the  details 
hitherto  mentioned,  of  the  Decorated  period,  and  so,  too,  is  the 
two-light  west  window  of  the  tower.  The  west  doorway  into  the 
tower  is  now  the  chief  entrance  into  the  church.  The  general 
character  of  the  tower  is  throughout  Decorated;  but  the  battle- 
ments, which  are  moulded  into  panels,  have  probably  been  renewed 
at  a  later  date. 

The  windows  of  the  south  aisle  are  for  the  most  part  of  a 
debased  character.  The  east  end  of  this  aisle  was  extended  a  bay 
subsequently  to  the  erection  of  the  present  'chancel.  The  east 
window  is  square -headed,  of  three  lights,  and  has  a  transom 
across  it.  Externally,  over  this  window,  is  the  hood-mould,  with 
head  terminals,  of  an  older  window,  circa  1850. 

The  chancel  still  retains,  externally,  its  high  pitch;  but  the 
walls  above  the  nave  arcades  were  raised  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
so  as  to  permit  of  the  flattened  roof  then  in  vogue.  The  square- 
headed  clerestory  windows  have  been  debased  and  deprived  of 
their  tracery  in  the  "Churchwarden  era." 

A  tempest  that  raged  with  much  severity  in  Derbyshire  on  June 
20th,  1545,  did  considerable  damage  to  the  church  and  village  of 
Kirk  Langley.  A  contemporary  account,  ascribing  the  mischief, 
.  as  was  then  wont,  to  the  direct  interference  of  the  devil,  says  : — 
"  And  from  thence  he  went  to  Langley,  w**  is  lyke  iiij  myles  from 
Darby,  &  there  he  hath  pullyd  downe  a  great  pte  of  the  churche, 
&  rowled  up  the  leade  &  lefte  it  lyeing,  &  so  went  to  Syr  Wyllam 
Bassett's  place  in  the  same  towne  &  all  soe  rente  it,  &  so  pullyd  a 
great  parte  of  it  downe  wth  his  ...  &  the  wood  that  growethe 
abowte  his  place,  &  in  his  parke  he  pulled  downe  his  pale,  &  dryve 
out  his  deare,  &  pulled  downe  his  woods,  and  some  broken  in  the 
mydds  that  was  xvi  or  xx  loode  of  wood  of  some  one  tre.  And 


*  "  At  the  request  of  the  Clergyman  and  Vestry  assembled,  I  built  at  my  own 
expense  the  Vestry."  Meynell  MSS.  The  degraded  condition  of  ecclesiastical  art  at 
that  date  is  strikingly  shown,  when  we  find  a  gentleman  of  such  undoubted  ability 
and  so  keenly  interested  in  archaeology,  as  Mr.  Meynell,  the  active  agent  in  erecting 
this  unsightly  excrescence. 


272  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

after  that  he  went  into  the  towne  to  Awstens  house  of  Potts  <fc 
hath  slayne  his  sonue  and  his  ager,  &  perused  all  the  hole  towne, 
that  he  hath  left  not  past  ij  hole  howsses  in  the  same  towne."* 

At  a  vestry  meeting  held  July  4th,  1839,  it  was  decided  to 
renew  the  roof  of  the  south  aisle,  to  re-pew  the  whole  of  the 
church,  and  to  erect  a  gallery  over  the  south  aisle.  This  was 
effected  at  a  charge  of  £526  8s.  2d.,  £370  of  which  was  raised 
upon  the  rates.  In  addition  to  this,  Mr.  Meynell  spent  £46  14s.  6d. 
on  chancel  repairs,  including  £20  for  "stained  glass  and  wire,"  and 
£14  9s.  Od.  for  lowering  the  east  window  two  feet,  so  as  to  show 
the  upper  tracery.  Sad  havoc  was  made  with  the  ancient  wood- 
work of  the  church.  The  screen  round  the  Meynell  quire,  at  the 
east  end  of  the  north  aisle,  which  extended  (as  we  find  from  Mr. 
Eawlins'  notes,  taken  in  1827)  as  far  as  the  centre  of  the  first 
arch,  was  removed,  and  the  best  of  the  work  used  up  as  a  reredos 
at  the  back  of  the  Holy  Table.  The  cornice  is  of  a  flowing  vine- 
leaf  and  grape  pattern  ;  the  tracery  in  the  panels  is  surmounted 
by  four-leafed  and  other  conventional  flowers.  The  whole  is  of 
Perpendicular  date.  The  screen  round  the  Twyford  quire  was  also 
taken  down,  and  some  of  it  was  used  to  make  up  the  screen 
across  the  chancel  arch.  But  there  were  previously  considerable 
remains  of  the  rood-screen  ;  and  the  present  screen  is  evidently  a 
composite  one,  comprising  work  both  of  the  Decorated  and  Per- 
pendicular periods.  In  the  south  aisle  were  four  substantial  oak 
benches,  on  which  was  the  inscription  : — "  The  parson  made  theise 
seats,  1586."  These  and  many  other  excellent  oak  fittings  disap- 
peared during  the  reseating.  The  arrangement  of  the  pews  that 
was  then  adopted  was  most  unseemly,  and,  fortunately,  nearly 
unique.  The  pulpit  was  removed  from  its  old  position  by  the 
east  respond  of  the  south  arcade,  and  placed  at  the  west  end  of 
the  church,  just  in  front  of  the  tower  arch.  The  pews  were  all 
made  to  face  the  pulpit,  the  preacher  being  preferred  to  the 
Sacrament,  and  the  congregation  consequently  have  to  sit  and 
worship  with  their  backs  to  the  altar. 

The  old  octagon  font  used  to  stand  against  the  middle  pillar  of 
the  south  arcade.  It  was  removed  in  1839,  and  thrown  out  of  the 
church  ;  but  it  was  subsequently  recovered,  and  now  stands  in  the 
vestry.  Mr.  Eawlins,  writing  before  the  alterations,  tells  us  of  the 
singular  use  to  which  it  was  put : — "  The  font  is  modern,  of 
marble,  and  circular,  to  supply  the  place  of  the  old  font,  which, 

*  Lysons'  Derbyshire,  p.  161. 


KIRK    LANGLEY.  273 

having   a   cover   upon   it,  fastened   down,  is  now  used  as  the  poor- 
box." 

When  the  church  was  new-pewed,  on  removing  the  plaster  on 
the  wall  of  the  south  aisle,  there  was  discovered  an  ancient  inscrip- 
tion of  the  Creed,  and,  apparently,  beneath  it  another  inscription 
still  more  ancient ;  the  former  being  in  Eoman  characters,  and  the 
latter  in  Old  English.  Three  different  sorts  of  old  Abbey  tokens, 
of  bronze  metal,  were  then  found  at  the  east  end  of  this  aisle, 
near  the  Pole  monument.  A  large  number  of  old  encaustic  tiles 
were  also  found  under  the  pavement  of  the  Meynell  quire.  There 
were  only  two  patterns,  bearing  respectively  (according  to  Mr. 
Meynell)  the  letters  "  Seb,"  surmounted  by  a  crown,  and  "  Mich." 
These  tiles  were  submitted  to  a  meeting  of  the  Archaeological 
Institute,  in  1847,  when  it  was  considered  probable  that  the 
lettering  stood  for — "  Sauctus  et  beatus  Michael,"  S.  Michael 
being  the  patron  saint  of  the  church.  About  fifty  of  these  tiles 
were  placed  under  the  altar  in  the  chancel,  where  they  still 
remain.  On  carefully  examining  the  lettering  of  the  crowned  tile, 
it  is  obvious  that  the  characters  had  been  mis-read  ;  they  are 
"  See  "  (not  "  Seb  ")  which  is  the  usual  abbreviation  of  Sancte. 

There  is  a  piscina  at  the  east  end  of  each  of  the  aisles  ;  also 
a  "squint"  from  each  aisle  into  the  chancel;  but  these  openings 
are  now  blocked  up.  The  squint  from  the  Twyford  quire  is  within 
the  doorway  of  the  old  staircase  leading  to  the  rood-loft. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle,  is  a  raised  or  altar  tomb, 
upon  the  surface  of  which  are  incised  the  effigies  of  a  man  and 
his  wife.  The  man  is  represented  in  late  plate  armour,  and 
bareheaded,  and  the  woman  in  a  French  cap,  long  fur-lined 
mantle,  and  gown  with  slashed  sleeves.  His  head  rests  on  a 
helmet,  and  hers  upon  a  cushion.  Bound  the  margin  is  the 
following  inscription : — 

Hie  jacent  Henncus  Pole  armg.  huyus  ecclesia  patronus'  et  Dorothea 
uxor  ei  qui  guide  Henric'  obiit  tertio  die  mensis  februarii  Ano  Dni  M° 
do  Iviij  cuj'  aie  ppicietur  Deus  amen. 

On  the  front  of  the  tomb  are  three  coats  of  arms  : — 

I.  Quarterly  of  four,  1st,  Pole  quartering  Chandos  :  2nd,  Twyford 
quartering  two  coats  that  seem  to  be  Shakerley  and  Lytton  ;*  3rd, 
Dethick ;  4th  as  1st. 

*  We  have  spared  no  pains  to  arrive  at  the  different  alliances  of  the  Twyfoi-d  family, 
but  have  not  been  able  to  meet  with  any  reliable  pedigree. 

19 


274  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

II.  The  same  quarterings  that  are  in  the  last  shield,  impaling — 
Fretty  a  fesse. 

III.  Pole  quartering  Chandos  impaling  Fretty  a  fesse. 

Henry  Pole,  who  married  the  heiress  of  Twyford,  was  the  second 
son  of  Peter  Pole,  of  Heage  and  Chesterfield.  Peter  Pole  was  the 
son  of  Henry  Pole,  of  Heage,  by  his  wife  Alice,  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  Eobert  Dethick,  of  Dethick.  Henry  Pole  was  the 
second  son  of  Peter  de  la  Pole,  of  Kadbourn,  by  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Lawton,  and  eventually  sole  heiress  of  Sir 
John  Chandos. 

It  has  hitherto  been  assumed  that  this  monument  was  to  the 
memory  of  Henry  Pole,  who  married  the  heiress  of  Twyford,  but 
the  arms  above  are  sufficient  to  disprove  this ;  Twyford  is  quar- 
tered, not  impaled.  The  twice  impaled  arms,  fretty  a  fesse,  might 
pertain  to  different  families  according  to  the  tinctures,  but  they 
probably  belong  to  the  Leicestershire  family  of  Flemmyng.  This 
must  be  the  tomb  of  Henry,  eldest  son  of  Henry  Pole,  by  the 
heiress  of  Twyford.  He  died  without  issue,  as  did  also  his  brothers 
William,  Peter,  Eichard,  and  Anthony ;  and  the  property  passed, 
as  has  been  already  stated,  to  another  brother,  Augustine,  who 
married  Cicely,  daughter  of  William  Bowden,  of  Bowden.  There 
was  also  a  sister,  who  became  the  wife  of  James  Noel,  of  Hilcote, 
Stafford,  and  several  other  children,  who  died  in  their  infancy. 

In  the  east  window  of  this  quire,  there  used  to  be  a  memorial 
of  Henry  Pole,  who  married  Ursula  Twyford,  and  which  must  have 
been  put  up  some  little  time  before  he  inherited  the  property,  for 
Thomas  Twyford,  as  we  shall  presently  see,  did  not  die  until  1522. 
The  following  inscription  was  in  this  window  about  the  middle  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  and  the  whole  of  the  glazing  was  doubt- 
less of  stained  glass  : — 

Orate  pro  animabus  Henrici  Pole  et  Ursula  uxoris  ejus  cum  10  Jiliis 
et  3  filiabm  et  pro  bono  statu  Henrici  Pole  qui  nuper  comant  in  de 
(sic~)  Rotheley  qui  istam  fenestram  fecerunt  A°  1510.* 

In  this  part  of  the  church,  which  pertained  to  the  old  manor  of 
Kirk  Langley,  and  which  used  to  be  known  as  "  Twyford' s  Quire," 
Bassano  (writing  in  1710)  describes  another  alabaster  slab,  whereon 
were  inscribed  the  effigies  of  a  man  and  woman.  The  man  was  in 
plate  armour,  and  below  .the  woman  was  the  small  figure  of  a 
female  child.  Between  their  heads  was  the  coat  of  Twyford,  quar- 

*  Dodsworth's  MSS.,  Bodleian  Library;  quoted  in  Reliquary,  vol.  xii.,  p.  220. 


KIRK    LANOLEY.  275 

teriug,    on    a   bend   three    martlets.      Round    the    margin    was    this 
inscription  :  — 

Hie  jaccnt  Thomas  Twyford  armiff.  et  Anna  vxor  ejus  qui  quidem 
Thomas  obiit  decimo  octavo  die  Julii  Ano  Dni  Milliino  DXXII  cujus 
an  line  ppicietur  Deus  amen. 

The  child  on  this  tomb  would  be  the  heiress  who  brought  Lang- 
ley  to  the  Poles.  This  monument  was  most  unfortunately  removed 
and  destroyed  about  the  beginning  of  this  century,  when  Cornelius 
Brough,  who  had  purchased  the  manor  house  near  the  church, 
claimed  this  quire  and  repaved  it. 

When  Bassano  was  here  this  quire  was  enclosed  with  a  screen 
or  parclose,  and  over  the  doorway  entering  into  it  were  the  arms 
of  Twyford  (an/.,  two  bars,  sab.,  on  a  canton  of  the  second  a 
cinquefoil,  or)  impaling  ary.,  upon  a  bend,  sab.,  three  martlets  of 
the  first.* 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  north  aisle  is  an  alabaster  stone, 
having  on  it  the  portraiture  of  a  lady  in  the  kennel-shaped  head- 
dress, and  wearing  a  close-fitting  dress  confined  round  the  waist 
by  a  girdle  with  long  pendent  ends.  The  inscription  round  the 
margin  is  much  defaced.  It  is  as  follows,  a  word  or  two  being 
supplied  from  Bassano  : — 

Hie  jucet  Alicia  Beresford  vidua  quondam  uxor  Thome  Beresford  de 
Neuton  Orange  gevH  qua  quedatn  Alicia  obiii  in  tertio  die  Junii  A.D. 
MUesimo  quinyentessimo  widecimo  ctif  aie  ppiciet'  de'  amen. 

After  Bassano's  time,  this  monument  was  displaced  and  buried, 
for  Mr.  Meynell  speaks  of  discovering  it  "  about  a  foot  beneath 
the  earth,  and  partly  under  the  slabs  of  two  children  of  the 
Meynell  family."  Thomas  Beresford,  of  Newton  Grange,  was 
the  second  son  of  Thomas  Beresford,  of  Fenny  Bentley,  by 
the  heiress  of  Hassall.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Roger 
Welgathorpe.f  and  must  have  married  the  lady  of  this  monu- 
ment for  his  second  wife.  The  quire  at  the  east  end  of  this 
aisle  pertained  to  the  manor  of  Meynell  Langley,  and  was  some- 
times called  "  Meynell  Quire,"  and  sometimes  "  Basset  Quire." 
From  the  situation  of  this  tomb,  it  seems  reasonable  to  surmise 
that  the  widow  of  Thomas  Beresford  was  a  member  of  the  Bassett 
family. 

The  manor  of  Meynell-Langley,  in  this  parish,  took  its  name 
from  the  ancient  family  of  that  name,  who  held  property  here 

*  This  coat  might  pertain  to  the  families  of  Bileston,  Bougheron,  Boughton,  Ditton, 
or  Hiiiton.  Papworth's  Armorials,  p.  230. 

t  See  tiie  elaborate  pedigree  of  Beresford  by  Mr.  Sleigh,  Reliquary,  vol.  ix.,  p.  177. 


276  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

as  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  Eobert  de  Meignell,  son  of 
Gilbert  de  Meignell,  of  Dalby,  Leicestershire,  was  the  first  who 
held  the  manor,  probably  by  grant,  of  Ralph  Fitzhubert.  The 
chief  seat  of  Sir  Hugh  de  Meignell,  who  died  in  1252,  was  in  this 
parish.*  The  fifth  in  descent  from  Sir  Hugh,  was  Ralph  de 
Meynell,  who  died  in  1376,t  seized,  inter  alia,  of  the  manor  of 
Kirk  Langley.  He  left  four  daughters,  co -heiresses: — Joan,  married 
to  (1)  John  Staunton,  of  Staunton  Harold,  and  to  (2)  Sir  Thomas 
Clinton — Elizabeth,  to  William  Crawshaw — Margaret,  to  John 
Dethick — and  Tho.masiue,  to  Reginald  Dethick.:}:  Margaret's  share 
was  the  manor  of  Meynell  Langley,  which  she  carried  to  her 
husband.  Sir  John  Dethick  dying  without  male  issue,  the  estate 
devolved  upon  his  only  daughter,  Margaret,  who  was  married  to 
Ralph  Bassett,  of  Blore.  It  remained  with  the  Bassetts  for  six 
generations,  when,  as  has  been  already  stated,  it  passed  by  mar- 
riage to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle.  In  1670  it  was  sold,  owing  to 
the  financial  embarrassments  of  the  Duke,  consequent  on  the  Civil 
War.  to  Richard  and  Isaac  Meynell,  the  sixth  and  seventh  sons  of 
Godfrey  Meynell,  of  Willington.§  The  price  of  the  estate,  together 
with  part  of  the  manor  of  Kirk  Langley,  but  not  the  advowsou, 
was  £12,524  11s.  6d.  It  seems  to  have  been  purchased  by  Richard 
in  trust  for  his  brother  Isaac,  who  was  a  banker  of  the  city  of 
London.  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of  Isaac  Meynell,  was  married 
to  Hon.  Robert  Cecil,  second  son  of  the  Earl  of  Salisbury.  They 
sold  the  estate  to  Godfrey  Meynell,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Meyuell, 
rector  of  Kirk  Langley,  and  ninth  son  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  of 
Willington.  On  the  death  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  grandson  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Meynell,  without  issue  in  1758,  the  estate  was  bequeathed 
in  severalties  to  no  less  than  nine  of  the  testator's  cousins.  One 
of  the  legatees  was  Katharine,  only  child  of  Susanna  (sister  of 
Godfrey  Meynell,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Meynell),  who  was  married 
to  Walter  Lord.  Katharine  Lord  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Ward, 

*  Dugdale's  Warwickshire,  p.  798. 

f  Another  account  says  that  he  died  in  1389;  but  it  is  not  of  much  consequence,  as 
the  landed  property,  including  Meynell  Langley,  was  settled  in  dower  on  his  mother, 
Joan,  who  survived  him,  dying  in  1398  (Inq.  post  Mort.,  21  Bic.  II.,  No.  40),  so  that 
Kalph's  daughter  did  not  inherit  until  after  their  grandmother's  death. 

I  Meynell  MSS.,  passim.  But  there  are  a  good  many  discrepancies  in  the  various 
Meynell  pedigrees  in  the  Harl.  MSS.  (6,128,  1,093,  5,809),  etc.  See  Topographer  and 
Genealogist,  vol.  i.,  p.  357,  etc.  The  account  there  given  makes  the  name  of  Mar- 
garet's husband  Roger  Dethick,  and  of  Elizabeth's  husband  "William  Aston,  but  the 
statement  in  the  text  can  be  proved  to  be  right  by  various  Inquisitions. 

§  The  Meynells  of  Willington  were  descended  from  "William  Meynell  (a  younger 
brother  of  Ralph  Meyuell,  the  father  of  the  four  co-heiresses),  who  died  in  1409. 
Godfrey  Meynell,  mentioned  in  the?  text,  was  ninth  in  direct  descent  from  William. 
See  pedigree  ot  the  Meynells  of  Willington,  Topographer  and  Qvntalogist,  vol.  i. 
p.  493. 


KIRK    LANGLEY.  277 

of  Little  Chester.  Their  only  surviving  child  and  heiress,  Susanna, 
was  married  to  John  Meynell,  of  Derby.  This  John  Meynell  was 
directly  descended  from  Francis  Meynell,  of  Anslow,  Stafford, 
younger  brother  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  of  Willington,  and  uncle  of 
Kev.  Thomas  Meynell,  rector  of  Kirk  Langley,  and  of  Isaac,  who 
purchased  the  estates  of  the  Duke  of  Newcastle. 

Godfrey  Meynell  (the  antiquary  to  whom  we  are  so  much 
indebted)  was  the  eldest  son  of  John  Meynell,  and  we  thus  find 
that  he  inherited  through  his  mother  one  part  of  the  ancient 
family  estates.  Two  other  parts  were  subsequently  conveyed  to 
him  by  purchase,  and  now  the  majority  of  the  old  property, 
together  with  the  advowson  of  the  church,  is  once  more  vested  in 
the  hands  of  the  Meynells,  in  the  person  of  Godfrey  Franceys 
Meynell,  of  Meynell  Langley,  High  Sheriff  for  the  county  in  1875. 

We  have  gone  into  the  outline  history  of  this  ancient  family  at 
greater  length  than  usual,  as  we  are  not  aware  of  any  other 
instance  of  the  history  of  a  manor  (certainly  it  has  no  parallel  'in 
this  county)  in  which  the  estates  have  repeatedly  reverted  to  dif- 
ferent offshoots  of  the  same  family  in  so  remarkable  a  manner. 

In  the  chancel,  in  front  of  the  altar  rails,  there  used  to  be  an 
alabaster  slab,  on  which  was  incised  the  effigy  of  a  priest,  in 
Eucharistic  vestments,  having  a  book  on  the  left  side  of  his  head, 
and  a  chalice  on  the  right.  Mr.  Meynell  took  a  drawing  of  it 
about  1825,  from  which  we  can  gather  that  it  was  of  fifteenth 
or  early  sixteenth  century  date  ;  but  he  adds  that  the  figure  was 
worn  off  by  the  feet  of  the  Sunday-school  children  a  few  years 
later.  In  1839  the  slab  altogether  disappeared.  It  may  here  be 
noted  that  a  day  school  was  kept  in  the  Twyford  quire  up  to  the 
year  1750  ! 

In  the  chancel  are  numerous  memorials  to  the  Meyuells.  The 
oldest  one  is  thus  inscribed  : — 

"Here  lieth  the  body  of  Godfrey  Meynell  late  of  Willington  Esqr  who  married 
Dorothy  daughter  of  John  Whitehall  of  Yeldersley  gent,  by  whom  he  had  9 
sonns  and  3  daughters  and  departed  this  life  the  21st  of  Aprill  1667  about  the 
77th  yeere  of  his  age." 

Below,    on    the    same    slab,    having   been    added    to    it    in    recent 
years  : — 

"In  memory  of  Eev.  Thomas  Meynell,  Am.  Prebendary  of  Lichfield,  and  44 
years  Rector  of  this  parish,  youngest  son  of  the  above  Godfrey  Meyuell,  he 
married  Katheriue,  daughter  of  John  Lane,  Esqr  of  Bentley  in  the  county  of 
Stafford,  and  died  August  xxii.,  MDCCVII.,  having  had  five  children,  viz.,  Godfrey, 
Katherine,  Dorothy,  and  Susanna,  and  Sarah  who  died  an  infant." 


278  DERBYSHIRE    CHUKCHKS. 

There  are  also  memorials  to  William,  fourth  son  of  Godfrey 
Meynell,  of  Willington,  1669 — to  Sarah,  infant  daughter  of  Eev. 
T.  Meynell,  1670 — to  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  of 
Willington,  1674;  she  was  married  to  (1)  James  Dangerfield,  to  (2) 
George  Jessop,  and  to  (8)  John  Hutton — to  Godfrey  Meynell,  son 
of  Rev.  T.  Meynell,  and  patron  of  the  church,  1705 — to  Thomas 
Meynell,  eldest  son  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  1701  ;  died  in  infancy — 
to  Catharine  Meynell,  second  daughter  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  1703 — 
to  Godfrey  Meynell,  son  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  1758  —  to  John 
Meynell,  son  of  Francis  Meynell,  of  Derby,  and  his  two  wives, 
1802 — to  Godfrey  Meynell  and  his  two  wives,  1854 — to  John 
Meynell,  of  Tapton,  eldest  son  of  Godfrey  Meynell,  1851 — and  to 
Lt.  William  Meynell,  who  fell  at  Guergivo,  on  the  Danube,  1854. 

There  are  also  monuments  to  Eev.  Charles  Wilmot,  rector,  fifth 
son  of  Eobert,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Nicholas  Wilmot,  of  Osmaston, 
1724 — to  Eev.  William  Cant,  patron  and  rector,  "an  orthodox  and 
exemplary  divine,"  1789 — and  to  William  Bayley  Cant,  only  son  of 
Eev.  W.  Cant,  1800. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  curious  document  of  the  year  1702, 
relative  to  the  manner  of  collecting  tithes  of  hay  in  this  parish : — 

"  The  gathering  of  Hay  Tithes  was  after  this  manner.  After  the  Inhabitants 
had  cut  the  grass  and  tedded  it,  or  cast  it  abroad,  they  cocked  it  up  into  rake 
cocks,  and  sent  for  the  titheman  to  come  and  take  his  tenth,  who,  beginning  at 
the"  entrance  of  the  meadow,  counted  ten,  and  pricked  a  bough  or  some  other 
mark  of  separation,  and  so  up  one  row  and  down  another  till  all  the  meadow  was 
tithed.  And  when  the  owner  or  his  servants  came  to  break  his  own  hay,  he 
always  left  a  space  for  the  titheman  to  break  the  Rector's  part,  when  the  tithes 
man  managed  it  till  it  was  taken  away. 

"  In  this  state  the  tithe  of  corn  and  hay  was  gather'd  all  Mr.  James  Holmes 
time,  who  died  about  the  latter  end  of  the  year  of  Our  Lord  1644.  Mr.  Francis 
Alsopp  succeeded  Mr.  Holmes  in  the  Rectory  (who  was  put  in  by  the  Sequestrators 
in  the  time  of  the  Civil  War),  and  he  kept  a  titheman  and  gathered  his  tithes,  in 
the  same  manner  as  Mr.  Holmes  his  predecessor  had  done  before  him,  all  his 
time,  he  died  about  the  latter  end  of  the  year  of  Our  Lord,  1655.  Mr.  Robert 
Seddin  succeeded  Mr.  Alsop  in  the  Rectory  who  kept  a  titheman  and  gathered  his 
tithes  in  the  same  manner  his  predecessor  had  done  before  him,  he  was  turned 
out  for  Non-conformity  at  Bartholomew  tide  A°.  dni.  1662. 

"  Mr.  Thomas  Meynell  succeeded  Mr.  Seddin  in  the  Rectory  and  gather'd  his 
tithes  in  the  same  manner  as  his  predecessors  had  done  before  him  until  the 
year  of  Our  Lord  1675,  as  the  said  Mr.  Meynell  let  the  Rectory  out  to  farm  to 
Robert  Smittam,  Inhabitant  of  this  parish  of  Kirk  Langley.  * 

The  flagon  and  chalice  of  the  Eucharistic  plate  was  the  gift  of 
Lady  Francis  Kniveton,  of  Bradley,  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

*  From  a  document  quoted  by  Mr.  Meynell,  then  (1830)  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
James  Brough. 


KIRK    LANGLEY.  279 

She  was  also  the  donor  of  similar  plate  to  the  churches  of  Ash- 
bourne,  Bradley,  Kniveton,  Mugginton,  Brailsford,  and  Osmaston, 
much  of  which  is  now  lost.*  "The  plate  (i.e.,  paten),"  says  Mr. 
Godfrey  Meynell,  writing  in  1825,  "  about  16oz.  8dwt.,  I  gave 
as  there  was  only  a  pewter  one  before.  My  mother  gave  the 
Crimson  Communion  Tablecloth,  the  old  one  being  bluet  serge, 
and  very  shabby." 

There  are  three  bells  in  the  tower,  thus  inscribed  : — 

I.  "  God   save   His   Church,   Tho   Doulfin   Eic   Parber   Wardens, 
1693." 

II.  "God  save  the  Church,  1629." 

III.  "  Hec    campana    sacra   fiat    Trinitate    beata.      E.  H.    T.  T. 
C. Wardens,  1679.      T.  M.    Minister."      We   find  from  the  registers 
that   the  names  of  these  two  churchwardens  were   Thomas   Taylor 
and   Eichard  Hickling. 

There  has  not  been  a  clock  in  this  tower  within  the  memory  of 
man,  but  that  there  was  one  formerly  is  evident  from  the  fact  that 
the  clerk  occupies  a  piece  of  land,  near  the  Burrows,  as  a  remu- 
neration for  the  imaginary  duty  of  winding  it  up ! 


There  is  no  chapelry  attached  to  this  parish,  but  the  old  Hall  of 
MEYNELL-LANGLEY  contained  a  chapel  of  some  size.  This  Hall, 
which  was  built  about  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  and  inhabited  by 
Sir  William  Bassett — judging  from  the  arms,  etc.,  which  used  to  bo 
on  the  wainscot — was  a  large  building  covering  three  sides  of  a 
square.  The  whole  was  taken  down  by  Mr.  Meynell  in  1757, 
except  that  part  wherein  was  the  state-room,  lobby,  and  stairs 
leading  to  the  chapel.  The  chapel  was  28  ft.  by  20  ft.,  and  "the 
ceiling  groined  with  oak  in  the  Gothic  way  of  roofing  churches." 
It  had  a  large  window  of  four  lights  in  the  gable  looking  to  the 
east.  Adjoining  to  the  chapel  was  a  small  apartment  known  by 
the  name  of  the  priest's  or  chaplain's  room.  Several  abbey-tokens, 
resembling  those  discovered  in  the  church,  were  found  under  the 
floor  of  the  chapel,  when  it  was  pulled  down  in  1834. 

*  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  81,  49. 

t  May  not  this  have  been  the  old  cover  of  the  Lady  altar,  blue  being  the  colour  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  ? 


fOflrfttnoptl}. 


|T  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey,  Hugh,  Earl  of 
Chester,  held  the  manor  of  Markeaton,  of  which  Mack- 
worth  and  Allestree  were  then  considered  berewicks  or 
hamlets.  There  was  at  that  time  a  priest  and  a  church  on  the 
manor,  though  it  almost  appears  from  the  Survey  as  if  the  church 
was  then  at  Markeaton  and  not  at  Mackworth.*  The  two  manors 
have  always  been  held  together  from  a  very  early  period.  They 
were  held  by  Thomas,  son  of  Eobert  Touchet  (under  the  Earl  of 
Chester),  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  when  he  obtained  a  grant  of 
free  warren  over  them,  which  was  confirmed  to  his  son  Robert  by 
Edward  I.f 

But  the  chartulary  of  Darley  Abbey  affords  us  earlier  proof  of 
the  connection  of  this  family  with  these  manors,  and  of  a  church 
which  was  undoubtedly  situated  at  Mackworth.  About  the  year 
1200,  Matthew  Touchet  was  rector  of  Mackworth  church,  and  in 
1238,  Simon  Touchet  was  rector,  on  the  presentation  of  Thomas 
Touchet.  In  the  latter  year  Simon  Touchet — with  the  assent  of 
the  patron  (probably  his  father),  of  the  patron's  son  Henry,  and 
of  Bishop  Alexander  de  Stavenby — granted  to  the  abbot  of  Daiiey 
tithes  of  Welleflat,  Marledeflat,  and  Feliceflat,  all  within  the  parish 
of  Mackworth.J 

Sir  Eobert  Touchet,  temp.  Edward  I.,  was  succeeded  in  his 
estates,  including  the  advowson  of  the  church  of  Mackworth,  by 

*  There  is  a  distinct  tradition  and  belief  in  the  parish  that  there  was  an  old  church 
at  Markeaton,  and  a  particular  field  is  generally  credited  with  the  site. 

t  Chart.  Rot.,  36  Henry  III.  memb.  26;  Placito  de  Quo  Warranto,  Edw.  I. 

£  Cott.  MSS.,  Titus  C.  ix.,  f.  140.  The  abbey  also  held  certain  cultivated  lands  in 
Mackworth.  Markeaton,  and  Allestree,  the  gifts  of  the  families  of  Touchet,  Frances, 
etc.  See  ff.  138-MOb. 


284  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

his  son  Thomas,  and  Thomas  by  his  son  John.  In  the  reign  of 
Eichard  II.,  Sir  John  Touchet,  by  his  marriage  with  Joan,  daugh- 
ter and  co-heiress  of  James,  Lord  Audley,  and  by  the  decease 
of  her  sister  Margaret,  became  entitled  to  two  parts  of  the  barony 
of  Audley,  and  took  the  style  of  Lord  Audley.  His  grandson, 
James,  Lord  Audley,  was  attainted  for  rising  in  rebellion  at  the 
head  of  the  Cornish  men,  12  Henry  VII.  It  was  about  this  time 
that  the  rectory  of  Mackworth  was  appropriated  to  the  abbey  of 
Darley.  The  abbey  had  to  bind  themselves  to  annual  pensions  of 
6s.  8d.  to  the  Bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield,  of  7s.  to  the 
dean  and  chapter  of  Lichfield,  and  of  2s.  to  the  priory  of  Coven- 
try, before  the  episcopal  sanction  was  obtained.  The  abbey  took 
the  whole  of  the  tithes,  but  undertook  to  pay  £9  per  annum  to 
the  vicar  of  Mackworth,  and  3s.  4d.  to  the  poor  of  the  parish 
on  Christmas-day.  The  tithes  of  this  parish  were  of  considerable 
value,  being  estimated  at  <£30  per  annum  in  1291,  when  the 
taxation  roll  of  Pope  Nicholas  IV.  was  drawn  up.  The  vicar, 
according  to  the  Valor  Ecclesiastics  (27  Henry  VIII.),  had  no 
further  income  beyond  the  £9,  except  a  manse  valued  at  8s.  per 
annum. 

The  abbot  of  Darley  only  enjoyed  a  single  presentation  to  this 
vicarage,  when  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries  intervened. 
Foreseeing  the  storm,  the  abbey  made  what  they  could  by  selling 
the  next  presentation  to  one  William  Ragge.  The  advowson  of 
the  vicarage  afterwards  changed  hands  once  or  twice,  but  even- 
tually it  came  to  the  Mundys,  who  were  lords  of  the  manor  and 
impropriators  of  the  great  tithes,  and  with  them  it  has  remained 
for  about  three  centuries. 

The  tithes  did  not  come  directly  from  the  dissolved  abbey 
by  grant  to  the  Mundys,  for  the  abbey,  almost  immediately  before 
its  overthrow,  adopting  the  same  tactics  as  they  did  with  the  ad- 
vowson, farmed  the  whole  of  the  tithes  of  Mackworth,  Markeaton, 
and  Allestree,  on  a  lease  of  fifty-three  years,  to  John  Shepherd,  at 
the  low  annual  rental  of  £10  per  annum,  but  receiving  doubtless 
a  heavy  fine  in  ready  money.*  But  this  arrangement  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  afterwards  recognised  by  the  crown,  for  the 
tithes  were  soon  afterwards  in  the  hands  of  Ealph  Gell,  of  Hopton, 
a  large  farmer  of  ecclesiastical  property.  In  6  Edward  VI.,  the 
great  tithes  were  granted  to  Sir  Edward  Bray,  John  Thornton, 
and  John  Danby,  coupled  with  a  proviso  to  insure  the  annual 

*  Minifiters'  Accounts,  Darley  Abbey,  31-32  Henry  VIII.,  No.  126. 


MACKWORTH.  285 

payment  of  the  £9  to  the  vicar.*  Up  to  that  date  the  Eeceiver 
General  of  the  revenues  of  the  monastery  had  been  responsible  for 
the  stipend,  according  to  a  decree  of  the  Court  of  Augmentations, 
dated  November  28th,  1541. t 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  made  the 
following  inventory  at  this  church  : — 

"Mackworth,  Oct.  1.    Thos.  Gilbertt  Curatt. 

"  j  chalyce  of  sylver  parcell  gylt  with  a  cover  — ij  great  belles  in  the  steple  &  a 
lyttell  belle  in  the  churche — j  hand  bell  &  a  lytell  bell— iiij  vestments,  ij  albes  & 
j  surplece,  whereof  j  of  redd  velvet,  j  of  grene  velvet,  j  of  grene  sylke,  &  j  of 
whyt  sylke — j  cross  of  tynne." 

The  Parliamentary  Commission,  of  1650,  affords  a  proof  of  the 
spiritual  destitution  of  the  parish  during  the  Commonwealth : — 

"  Mackworth  is  a  parsonage  and  viccaridge  impropriate.  Francis  Mundy  Esqr 
is  Impropriator  receives  the  proffitts  w°h  are  really  worth  two  hundred  and  fiftye 
pounds  per  annum  and  procures  the  cure  supplyed  as  he  can  agree,  destitute  at 
present." 

The  following  list  of  rectors  and  vicars  of  Mackworth  is  chiefly 
compiled  from  the  Lichfield  Registers  and  the  returns  of  the  First 
Fruits  Office : — 

EECTOBS. 

1200  circa.  Matthew  de  Tuschet.    Darley  Chartulary. 

1238.  Simon  de  Tuschet;  patron,  Thomas  de  Tuschet.  He  was  living  in  the 
year  1285.  Darley  Chartulary. 

1318.  Edmund  Touscher;  patron,  Sir  Robert  Toucher.  He  obtained  leave  of 
absence  for  a  year  at  the  time  of  his  institution.  In  the  year  1331, 
Edmund  Touchet,  in  the  presence  of  Bishop  Roger  de  Norbury,  who  per- 
sonally visited  Mackworth  to  hear  and  settle  the  dispute,  agreed  to  give  up 
all  claim  to  tithes  and  other  dues  from  a  certain  place  within  the  parish, 
qui  vulgariter  vocatur  Hascowe,  held  by  the  abbot  and  canons  of  Darley. 
The  canons  were  able  to  produce  documents  showing  their  immunity  from 
tithes  for  this  piece  of  land  from  time  immemorial,  and  rector  Edmund, 
on  behalf  of  himself  and  his  successors,  and  with  the  consent  of  his 
"  venerable  father,"  Sir  Robert  Touchet,  lord  of  Mackworth,  and  patron  of 
the  church,  signed  an  agreement  renouncing  all  such  claims  for  the  future. 
—Titus  C.  ix.,  f.  145b. 

1348.  John,  son  of  Walter  de  Folnitt;  patron,  Thomas  Tocher,  lord  of  Markeaton. 
On  the  death  of  E.  T. 

1352.  John  de  Ossewell ;  patron,  John  Tocher. 

1381.  Thomas  Touchet.J 

1409.  John  Scot;  patron,  John  Tochet.    On  the  death  of  T.  T. 

1409.  Thomas  Holwell;  patron,  John  Tochet.     On  the  resignation  of  J.  S. 

*  Pat.  Rot.,  6  Edw.  VI.,  pt.  9,  memb.  28. 

t  Augmentation  Decrees,  vol.  iii  ,  p.  219.  A  copy  of  this  document,  as  well  as  of 
those  mentioned  in  the  two  preceding  notes,  were  kindly  shown  to  us  by  the  Rev.  W. 
Gilder,  the  present  vicar. 

I  Thomas  Touchet,  rector  of  Mackworth,  in  the  year  1398,  gave  lands  situate  in 
Derby,  Aston,  and  Weston,  to  the  Priory  of  King's  Mead,  Derby.  Inq.  post  mort.,  16 
Ric.  II.,  No.  134. 


286  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

1427.  Richard  Bernard;    patron,  James,  Lord    Audley,    and   Margaret,   his   wife. 

On  the  death  of  T.  H. 
.  Philip  More. 

1465.  Edward  Audley ;  collated  by  the  Bishop.     On  the  death  of  P.  M. 

1466.  Thomas  Toolne;  patron,  James,  Lord  Audley,  de  Audley.     On  the  resigna- 
tion of  E.  A. 

1471.  H.  Wryght;  patron,  James,  Lord  Audley.     On  the  death  of  T.  T. 

.  Edward  Somer;  patron,  James,  Lord  Audley.    On  the  death  of  H.   \V. 

VICARS. 

1509.  Edmund  Lowe ;  patron,  the  Ahbot  of  Darley. 

1543.  Robert  Thacker;   patron,  Robert  Ragge,  owing  to  an  arrangement  between 

the  lately  dissolved  Abbey  and  William  Ragge. 
.  William  Pendleton. 

1571.  Eugo  Cart ;  patrons,  John  Wesby,  and  Katharine,  his  wife.      On  the  resig- 
nation of  W.  P. 

1610.  Edward  Hinchclyffe.    Buried  9th  March,  1638.    Parish  Register. 

1639.  John   Ravensdale.      "1642,   Mr.    John    Ravensdale    went    away."      Parish 

Register. 

.  James  Hinchclyffe.  Signs  the  registers  in  1646.  He  also  seems  to  have 
temporarily  served  the  cure  between  the  ejection  of  Ogden  and  the  institu- 
tion of  M.  Hope. 

1657.  Samuel  Ogden.    Ejected  1662.* 

1663.  Mark   Hope.       "Ad   presentationem    Dni    Regis   per  lapsum    temporis    aut 
quocunque  alio  modo  hac  vice  Patronis."  f     On  the  ejection  of  S.  O. 

1695.  Jasper  Horsington;  patron,  Francis  Mundy.     On  the  death  of  M.  H. 

1724.  William  Laughton;  patron,  Wrightson  Mundy. 

1731.  John  Pickering ;  patron,  Wrightson  Mundy. 

1791.  William  Pickering;  patron,  Francis  Noel  Clarke  Mundy.      On  the  death  of 
J.  P. 

1802.  George  Pickering;   patron,  Francis  Noel   Clarke  Mundy.      On  the  death  of 
W.  P. 

1858.  William  Gilder ;  patron,  William  Mundy.    On  the  death  of  G.  P. 

The  Church,  which  is  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  consists  of 
chancel,  with  modern  north  vestry  and  organ  chamber ;  nave,  with 
north  and  south  aisles ;  tower  at  the  west  end  surmounted  by  a 
spire,  and  large  south  porch  with  a  parvise  over  it.  The  dimen- 
sions of  the  area,  according  to  Mr.  Kawlins,  are  : — nave  43  ft.  by 
21  ft.  3  in.  ;  north  aisle  27  ft.  6  in.  by  12  ft.  7  in. ;  south  aisle 
37  ft.  8  in.  by  16  ft.  ;  and  chancel  33  ft.  1  in.  by  20  ft.  1  inch. 
The  present  body  of  the  church,  with  the  tower  and  spire,  dates 
almost  exclusively  from  the  end  of  the  Decorated  period,  circa 
1370-80,  when  it  was  evidently  rebuilt  throughout.  The  chancel, 
which  is  earlier  work  of  the  same  period,  is  about  half-a-century 
older.  It -is  a  particularly  handsome  specimen  of  the  style.  The 

*  He  was  ordained  by  the  Wirksworth  Presbytery  in  1653,  and  served  the  chapels 
of  Buxton  and  Fairfield  up  to  1657,  when  he  moved  to  Mackwortb.  After  his  ejection 
for  nonconformity,  he  taught  a  private  school  in  Derby;  but  in  1685  the  master  of  the 
Free  School  proceeded  against  him  in  the  Court  of  Arches  for  teaching  to  the  preju- 
dice of  the  Free  School,  and  won  his  cause.  Sir  John  Gell,  thereupon,  gave  him  the 
Free  School  of  Wirksworth,  and  there  he  taught  until  his  death  in  1697.  See  a  long 
account  of  Samuel  Ogden,  in  Culamy's  Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  p.  197. 

t  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  xvii.,  f.  36. 


MACKWORTH.  287 

buttresses,  placed  at  the  right  angles  at  the  east  end  of  the 
building,  are  well  worked,  and  crowned  with  crocketed  pinnacles. 
There  are  two  two-light  pointed  windows  in  the  south  wall,  and 
also  a  priest's  door,  ornamented  with  the  ball-flower  moulding. 
The  same  moulding  runs  round  the  exterior  cornice  of  the  chancel. 
The  east  window  is  a  beautiful  example  of  four  lights,  having  two 
trefoils  and  a  quatrefoil  in  the  upper  tracery. 

The  tracery  of  this  window  was  renewed  at  a  general  restoration 
of  the  church  in  1851,*  but  it  is  a  precise  reproduction  of  the 
tracery  of  its  predecessor.  Many  other  parts  of  the  chancel  were 
then  renewed,  and  the  organ  chamber  and  vestry  on  the  north 
side  were  added.  At  the  same  time  a  west  gallery  in  the  nave 
was  abolished,  and  the  old  pews  removed. 

The  nave  is  separated  from  the  aisles  by  three  arches  on  each 
side,  supported  by  octagonal  pillars  and  responds.  There  are  three 
small  square-headed  clerestory  windows  of  two  lights,  on  the  north 
side,  but  none  on  the  south.  The  chancel  arch  issues  from  the 
walls  without  corbels  or  capitals.  There  is  no  regular  archway 
into  the  tower  from  the  nave,  which  is  rather  singular,  but  only  a 
large  pointed  doorway.  There  are  two  three-light  square-headed 
windows  in  the  south  wall  of  the  south  aisle,  and  similar  ones  in 
a  like  position  in  the  north  aisle.  In  the  western  bay  of  the 
north  wall  of  the  latter  aisle  is  a  blocked-up  plain  pointed  door- 
way. The  west  window  of  that  aisle  is  a  two-light  pointed  Deco- 
rated window,  with  simple  intersecting  mullions.  Its  date  is  nearer 
to  the  beginning  than  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century,  and  it 
belongs  to  an  older  fabric  than  the  rest  of  the  body  of  the  church. 
The  east  and  west  windows  of  the  south  aisle  were  renewed 
in  the  Perpendicular  style  of  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, and  are  pointed  ones  of  three  principal  lights.  A  good  bold 
wall-plate,  something  like  that  at  Tideswell  church,  runs  round  the 
north  and  south  aisles,  the  south  porch,  and  the  tower,  showing 
they  are  all  of  the  same  date.  The  tower  is  somewhat  remarkable. 
It  is  divided  into  two  stages  by  a  string  course ;  it  has  no  west 
door,  and  the  lower  stage  is  very  plain,  except  that  just  below  the 
string-course,  on  the  west  and  north,  are  cross-bow  loop  holes, t 

*  The  total  expenditure  on  this  restoration  was  ±'1,167  13s.  9id.,  and  it  was  carried 
out,  considering  the  time  in  which  it  was  done,  with  much  care,  and  with  less 
destruction  of  old  parts  than  might  hare  been  expected. 

f  Cross-bow  loop-holes  are  of  rare  occurrence  in  ecclesiastical  architecture.  They 
may  be  noted  in  the  battlements  of  the  churches  of  Pickering  and  "Winteringliam, 
Yorkshire,  and  Rushton,  Northamptonshire  ;  also  in  the  angular  turrets  of  the  tower 
of  Kettering,  Northamptonshire  ;  but  we  do  not  remember  any  other  instance  of  their 
occurring  in  a  similar  position  to  those  at  Mackworth. 


288  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

and  another  on  the  south  side  is  now  concealed  by  the  clock. 
The  upper  stage  of  the  tower  is  lighted  by  large  square-headed 
windows  of  two  lights,  divided  by  a  transom.  The  parapet  is  em- 
battled, and  from  it  springs  an  octagonal  spire,  lighted  towards 
the  summit  by  four  projecting  windows. 

Against  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  are  three  ascending  sedilia, 
and  beyond  them  a  piscina,  all  in  trefoiled  arches,  with  hood- 
mouldings.  At  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  piscina  in  a 
small  trefoiled  niche,  which  was  brought  to  light  in  the  restora- 
tion of  1851.  At  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle,  flanking  the 
archway  into  the  organ  chamber,  but  formerly  on  each  side  of  the 
east  window,  are  two  richly  carved  canopied  niches  of  unequal 
height.  They  are  of  the  Perpendicular  period,  and  the  window 
which  was  here  before  the  restoration  was  also  of  that  style,  cor- 
responding with  the  similar  one  in  the  south  aisle.  Against  the 
north  wall  is  a  curious  arched  recess — now  occupied  by  a  table 
recounting  the  parish  charities — and  over  it,  at  a  considerable 
elevation,  is  a  projecting  canopy,  exhibiting  two  ogee-shaped 
crocketed  arches,  with  double  feathering,  surmounted  by  a  small 
battlement.  This  large  canopied  recess  has  given  rise  to  a  good 
deal  of  antiquarian  conjecture,  but  the  old  local  name  for  it,  as 
mentioned  in  Sir  Stephen  Glynn's  MSS. — the  Abbot's  Seat— seems 
to  us  to  undoubtedly  afford  the  true  solution.  Not  only  was  this 
church  appropriated  to  the  abbey  of  Darley  at  a  late  date,  but  the 
abbey  possessed  considerable  landed  property  here  almost  from  the 
very  time  of  its  first  foundation.  Certain  fields  in  the  parish  are 
still  known  by  the  name  of  Abbot's  Meadow.  Probably  one  of  the 
abbots  of  the  adjacent  monastery  helped  to  rebuild,  or  completely 
rebuilt  this  aisle,  and  what  more  likely  than  that  he  should  there 
provide  for  himself  and  his  successors  an  official  seat  of  a  perma- 
nent character.  A  basin-font  of  comparatively  modern  date  was 
in  use  before  the  restoration  of  the  church.  For  it  is  now  sub- 
stituted a  good  font  of  Caen  stone,  much  resembling  that  of  S. 
Mary  Magdalene's,  Oxford.  Some  old  oak  carving,  that  seems  to 
have  formerly  formed  part  of  an  ancient  screen,  is  now  used  to 
wainscot  the  back  of  a  seat  within  the  porch. 

In  the  south  wall  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  sepulchral  arched 
recess,  having  a  continuous  flowered  moulding.  Beneath  it  is  an 
alabaster  slab,  seven  feet  long  by  twenty-six  inches  broad,  with 
the  sculptured  head  and  tips  of  the  hands  of  a  priest,  sunk  in  a 
quatrefoiled  circle.  The  rest  of  the  slab  is  occupied  by  an  incised 


MACKWORTH.  289 

cross,  rising  from  a  "calvary''  base.  Round  the  margin  is  an 
inscription,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  completely  worn  away. 
All  that  we  can  decipher  is  : — "  ....  in  parte  .  .  .  australi  .  .  . 
qui  obiit  ....  anno  dni  M :  CCCC  nono  ....  ppiciet:  Deus  amen.'" 
This  slab  was  found  under  the  flooring  at  the  east  end  of  the 
south  aisle  in  1850,  but  we  have  little  doubt,  from  the  inscription, 
and  from  its  fitting  this  recess,  that  it  is  now  in  its  original 
position,  from  which  it  had  been  carelessly  ejected  at  some  period 
when  the  church  was  repewed.  This  recess  is  certainly  that  of  a 
founder  or  rebuilder,  a  fact  that  was  probably  chronicled  on  the 
inscription  when  complete.  We  have  little  or  no  hesitation  in 
assigning  this  tomb  to  that  member  of  the  manorial  family,  to 
whom  allusion  has  already  been  made  as  a  benefactor  of  the 
priory  of  King's  Mead — Thomas  Touchet — who  died  in  1409,  and 
who  held  the  rectory  of  Mackworth  from  1381  until  the  time  of 
his  death. 

Against  the  east  wall  of  the  south  aisle  is  a  raised  tomb  of 
brown  veined  alabaster,  on  which  rests  the  rather  clumsily  sculp- 
tured effigy  of  a  man  dressed  in  a  long  gown  with  hanging  sleeves. 
Bound  the  neck  and  wrists  are  ruffs,  and  the  beard  and  hair  are 
worn  short.  On  the  margin  of  the  tomb  is  inscribed,  in  Roman 
characters, 

"  Here  lyeth  Edward  Mundy  Esquier.  He  dyed  June  ye  7, 1607,  and  Jane  his  wife, 
daughter  to  William  Burnell  of  Winkburne,  Esquier,  June  y8  17, 1611." 

Within  a  wreath,  at  the  north  end  of  the  monument,  are  the 
impaled  arms  of  Mundy  (Per  pale,  gu.  and  sab.,  on  a  cross  en- 
grailed, arg.,  five  lozenges,  purp. ;  on  a  chief,  or,  three  eagles' 
legs  erased  a-la-quise,  az.)  and  Burnell  (arg.,  a  lion  rampant,  sab., 
crowned,  or). 

In  front  of  the  monument  are  the  small  effigies  of  six  sons  and 
two  daughters.  About  the  year  1516,  John,  Lord  Audley,  sold 
the  manors  of  Mackworth  and  Markeaton  to  John  Mundy,  a  native 
of  Winchcombe,  Bucks,  but  then  a  citizen  of  London.  Sir  John 
Mundy  was  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1522,  and  died  in  1538, 
seized  of  Markeaton,  Mackworth,  Allestree,  etc.  His  second  wife 
was  Juliana,  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  William  Browne,  of 
London.  On  the  wall  above  the  monument  are  the  arms,  in  ala- 
baster, of  Mundy  quartering  Browne,  who  bore — az.,  a  chevron 
between  three  escallops,  or,  sometimes  given  within  a  bordure,  or. 

Edward    Mundy,  of   the   monument,  was  the  eldest  son  of   Vincent 
20 


290  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Mundy,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  John.  Vincent  was  slain  by  his 
fourth  son,  who  bore  his  own  name.  The  children  of  Edward 
Mundy  were  (1)  Francis,  father  of  John  Mundy,  mentioned  under 
Allestree,  who  died  in  1681  ;  (2)  Henry  ;  (3)  John ;  (4;  Vincent ; 
(5)  William  ;  (6)  Zaccheus  or  Zacchary ;  (7)  Constance,  wife  of 
Adrian  Farnham;  and  (8)  Jane,  wife  of  Thomas  Lewis.* 

There  is  now  no  old  glass  in  this  church  (except  a  few  flowered 
quarries  in  the  north  aisle  windows),  but  Mr.  Eawlins,  who  visited 
Mackworth  in  1818,  and  again  in  1825,  thus  speaks  of  the  east 
window: — "The  great  east  window  is  very  light,  having  some 
grand  tracery,  much  dilapidated  towards  the  summit,  but  secured 
by  two  cross  iron  bars,  braced  round  the  mullions  with  rings  of 
the  same  metal.  In  the  compartments  of  this  window  are  five 
specimens  of  delicate  painted  glass.  When  I  viewed  them  on 
Sept.  23rd,  1818,  they  appeared,  from  the  strong  light  cast  upon 
them,  exquisitely  beautiful."  The  centre  subject,  he  adds,  was 
Abraham  at  his  tent  door,  and  the  three  angels ;  and  the  others, 
Israelites  encompassing  Jericho,  Philip  and  the  Eunuch,  Spoiling 
the  Amalekites,  and  the  Dedication  of  Solomon's  Temple.  This 
window  is  now  occupied  with  stained  glass  of  the  Four  Evan- 
gelists, to  the  memory  of  Francis  Noel  Clarke  Mundy;  and  a  very 
effective  and  handsome  reredos,  chiefly  composed  of  Derbyshire 
alabaster  and  marble,  has  just  been  erected  "  In  memory  of 
William  Mundy,  born  1801,  died  1877."  To  the  left  hand,  on  this 
reredos,  are  the  arms  of  Mundy  impaling  Frampton  (arg.,  a  bend, 
gu.,  cotised,  sab.),  and  to  the  right  Mundy  impaling  Cavendish. t 

The  east  window  of  the  south  aisle  is  of  modern  stained  glass, 
and  contains  the  various  impalements  of  the  direct  line  of  the 
Mundys,  of  Markeaton,  from  the  commencement  of  their  pedigree, 
when  John  Mundy,  temp.  Edward  I.,  married  Isabel,  daughter  of 
Eobinget  Eyre,  of  Hope. 

The  parvise,  or  chamber  over  the  porch,  is  gained  by  a  circular 
staircase  within  the  wall  in  the  north-west  angle.  This  room 
formerly  had  a  fire-place  and  chimney  in  the  south  wall,  which 
were  most  needlessly  and  unfortunately  done  away  with  in  1851. 
It  no  doubt  served  as  a  dormitory  for  one  of  the  chaplains,  or  for 

*  From  Mundy  pedigree  in  Nichols'  Leicestershire,  vol.  iv.,  pt.  2,  p.  525.  and  Pegge's 
MSS.,  Coll.  of  Arms. 

t  William  Mundy  married,  in  1830,  Harriet  Georgiana,  daughter  of  James 
Frampton,  Esq.,  of  Moreton,  Dorset ;  Francis  Noel  Mundy,  his  son,  married,  in 
1864,  Emily  Georgiana,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Richard  Cavendish,  of  Thornton  Hall, 
Buckinghamshire. 


MACKWOETH.  291 

a  sacristan,  who  would  from  thence  be  able  to  watch  over  the 
valuables  that  adorned  the  side  altars,  through  two  cunningly  con- 
trived "  squints,"  pierced  in  different  directions  through  the 
masonry.  The  one  that  commands  the  south  altar  terminates  out- 
wardly in  a  transverse  or  cross-bow  loop-hole. 

Over  the  doorway  into  the  porch  is  a  graved  mural  sundial,  and 
on  the  stones  of  the  two  diagonal  buttresses  are  others.  Above 
the  sundial  over  the  doorway,  may  be  noticed  a  connecting  link 
with  the  older  church  that  stood  either  on  this  site,  or  else  at 
Markeaton.  One  of  the  square-cut  stones  bears  on  its  face  two 
parallel  lines,  which  once  formed  part  of  the  stem  of  an  early 
incised  sepulchral  cross. 

There  are  three  bells  hi  the  tower,  thus  inscribed : — 

I.  "  God    save   the    King,  1662  ;  "    and  the  bell-mark  of  George 
Oldfield.     Weight,  5  cwt.  2  qr. 

II.  "  Jhesus  be  our  speed,  1612;"    and  the  bell-mark  of  Henry 
Oldfield.     Weight,  7  cwt. 

III.  "  God    save    His    Church,    1616 ; "    and    the    bell-mark    of 
Henry  Oldfield.     Weight,  8  cwt.  2  qr. 

The  earliest  registers  are  of  the  year  1611.  "The  Eegister 
booke  of  Mackworthe  bought  by  Xofer  Bludworthe  and  John 
Croshawe  churchwardens  A°.  dni  1611 — iiij9."  There  is  a  curious 
license  for  eating  flesh  in  Lent,  under  the  year  1618 : — 

"  Whereas  the  right  wor*"11  Francis  Mundy,  of  Markeaton,  in  the  parish  of 
Mackworth  and  countie  of  Derbie  Esq,  for  the  avoidinge  of  the  penalties  and 
dangers  of  the  lawes  and  statutes  made  for  restrainte  of  takinge  fleshe  in  Lente, 
and  in  consideracione  yl  he  hath  in  his  howse  at  dyett  or  table  the  right  wor11 
M"  Dorothie  Poole,  gentlewoman,  about  the  age  iiij  score  yeres,  who  is  verie 
weake  and  sicklie,  not  able  to  goe  or  stand  without  helpe,  hath  desired  me  to 
grante  License  to  and  for  the  said  Dorothie  Poole  to  eate  flesh  for  and  duringe 
the  tyme  of  her  sicknesse,  wch  I  have  thought  fittinge  and  in  regarde  of  the 
consideracioiies  aforesaid  to  be  most  true,  and  doe  herebie  graunte  Lycense  unto 
the  said  Dorothie  Poole  to  eate  fleshe  for  and  duringe  the  tyme  of  her  sickness, 
according  to  the  lawes  and  statutes  of  this  realem  in  y*  case  made  and  provided, 
and  hereunto  I  have  putt  my  hand  the  ixth  daie  of  Februarie  in  the  reigne  of 
Kinge  James  of  England  the  xvjth  and  of  Scotland  the  lijd  An.  Dni.  1618,  by  me 

"  Edward  Hinchclyffe,  clerk."  * 


*  For  other  instances  of  post-Reformation  licenses  to  eat  meat  in  Lent,  see  Churches 
of  Derbyshire,  vol.  Hi.,  p.  363,  and  the  previous  account  of  S.  Alkmund's  in  this 
volume.  Henry  VIII.  permitted  the  use  of  white  meats  by  proclamation  of  1543, 
which  continued  in  force  until  1618,  when  James  I.,  by  proclamation,  wholly  forbade 
meat  in  Lent,  a  proclamation  which  was  repeated  by  him  in  1625,  and  again  by 
Charles  I.  in  1627  and  1631.  The  dispensations  granted  by  those  holding  parochial 
cures  were  given  under  a  statute  of  5  Elizabeth,  by  virtue  of  which  they  could  sell 
licenses  according  to  the  rank  of  the  applicants  !  Is  this  statute  repealed  ? 


292"  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

Soon  after  the  induction  of  John  Ravensdale  to  the  vicarage, 
1639,  the  following  interesting  inventory  of  Church  Goods  was 
inserted  at  the  end  of  the  first  Register  Book : — 

The  goods  belonginge  to  the  Parish  Church  of  Mackworth. 

1.  A  church  bible  of  the  last  Translations. 

2.  A  Common  booke  for  the  minister. 

3.  A  Common  booke  for  the  Clark. 

4.  Jewells  Apology  against  Hardinge. 

5.  Booke  of  the  Canons.     (In  a  later  hand)  Mr  Rausdale  tooke  away. 

6.  A  silver  cup  with  a  cover  or  plate  to  lay  bread  on.* 

7.  A  pewter  flaggon. 

8.  A  Carpet  of  greene  for  the  Communion  Table.f 

9.  A  table  cloth  for  the  Communion  Table. 

10.  A  Surplesse  for  the  minister.      (In  a  later  hand)    Taken    away  by  Souldiers 
and  William  Uclton  (?)  in  warr  tyme. 

11.  Divers  towells  for  the  seattes  in  the   ChancelLJ      (In   a  later  hand)    Taken 
away  in  Alexander  Beiietts  and  Tho.  Lassells  tyme. 

12.  This  Register  booke,  consisting  of  27  leaves. 

Ita  testantur  John  Ravensdale,  Minister 

William  Jackson  ) 
Thomas  Parker    I  Churchwardens 

and  12  others. 

Appended  to  this  inventory  are  the  following  additions : — ' '  A 
ladder,  a  chest,  a  pulpit  cushion,  and  a  boxe  to  carry  bread  and 
the  cup  and  cover  in  at  the  Communion."  The  last  entry  is 
certainly  noteworthy,  and  almost  looks  as  if  there  had  been 
reservation  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  for  the  sick,  as  in  the 
Church  of  Scotland  at  the  present  day. 

In  the  vestry  is  a  parish  chest,  bearing  the  date  1640.  The 
ironwork  of  the  hinges  and  clamps  is  unusually  well-nuished  and 
handsome. 


*  This  plate  is  now  in  use.     The  hall-mark  shows  it  to  be  of  the  year  1627-8. 

f  Probably  this  was  the  old  altar  frontal  for  ferial  or  ordinary  use.  The  ferial 
colour  of  the  Use  of  Sarum  was  red,  but  there  are  good  reasons  for  supposing,  as  has 
been  already  stated  under  Crich,  etc.,  that  Derbyshire  followed  the  Use  of  Lincoln. 

£  This  looks  as  if  the  sedilia  were  then  in  use.  Probably  the  "  towells "  were 
embroidered  seat  cloths  of  pre-Reformation  date. 


ALLESTREE.  293 


etjapelrg  of 


|LLESTEEE,   from    its    earliest    foundation,   seems   to   have 
been    a    chapel   of    Mackworth,    and   the   rectors    of    the 
mother   church  were    bound    to    find    a    chaplain    for   the 
daily  celebration  at  its  altar. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  temp.  Edward  VI.,  give  the 
following  inventory  for  this  chapel : — 

"  Alestre,  Oct.  5.     Tho.  Harryson  curate. 

"  j  chalyce  parcell  gylte — iij  bells  of  acorde  in  ye  Stepull — j  handebell — j  sacryng 
bell — j  senser — j  holy  water  bucket  of  brass — ij  cruetts— iiij  aulter  clothes — ij 
towells — ij  vestments — j  cope  of  sylke — iij  corporis  clothes  &  cases,  j  of  red 
velwet,  ij  of  crule — j  olde  cope  of  sylke." 

The  Parliamentary  Survey  of  Livings,  1650,  says  : — 

"Allestree  is  a  viccaridge  and  parsonage  impropriate  worth  about  three  score" 
pounds  per  annum  the  same  Mr  Francis  Mundye  is  Impropriator  receives  the 
prontts  and  procures  the  place  supplyed.  Mr  Botham  is  curate  insufficient  and  a 
drunkard. 

"  Allestree  is  a  small  parish  and.  may  conveniently  be  united  to  Aukmonds  in 
Derby  it  lyning  neare." 

The  Commissioners  were  wrong  in  speaking  of  Allestree  as  a 
vicarage  and  a  district  parish.  It  remained  a  parochial  cbapelry 
of  Mackworth  until  recent  years,  when,  under  legislation  of  the 
present  reign,  it  secured  its  independence  and  was  gazetted  a 
vicarage  in  1868.  When  Mackworth  was  appropriated  to  Darley 
Abbey,  the  tithes  of  Allestree  also  became  the  property  of  the 
monastery,  and  they  subsequently,  like  those  of  Mackworth,  came 
into  the  hands  of  the  Mundys.  Allestree  was  served  either  by  the 
vicar  of  Mackworth,  or  by  a  curate  of  his  appointment. 

On  November  16th,  1682,  an  Inquisition  was  held  at  Derby, 
before  Eowland  Okeover,  Thomas  Eudyard,  Matthew  Smyth,  Henry 
Lowe,  Joseph  Parker,  and  Gervas  Eaynor,  by  virtue  of  a  commis- 
sion for  the  due  execution  of  a  statute  of  34  Elizabeth,  entitled, 


294  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

"  An  Act  to  redresse  the  misimployment  of  Lands  Goods  and  Stocks  of 
money  heretofore  given  to  Charitable  Uses,"  when  it  was  found  that  the 
rents  and  profits  of  "certain  closes  or  parcells  of  ground  situate 
lying  and  being  in  Marion  als  Marke  Eaton  feilde  in  the  parish  of 
Mackworth,  called  Sawcy  Hill,  formerly  lying  open  in  the  saide 
feilde  and  now  inclosed  and  divided  into  three  closes,"  had,  from 
time  immemorial,  until  about  twenty-eight  years  ago,  been  employed 
towards  the  repair  of  the  parish  church  of  Allestree,  "called^  St. 
Edmund's."  This  was  proved,  not  only  by  the  oaths  of  divers 
credible  witnesses,  but  by  the  production  oi  several  leases  between 
the  churchwardens  and  other  inhabitants;  the  oldest  being  for  a 
moiety  of  the  premises  on  a  thirty  years  lease  for  22d.  yearly  rent, 
86  Henry  VIII.,  between  the  wardens  of  S.  Edmund's  and  one 
Eichard  Kindar;  and  the  most  recent  one,  18  James  I.,  for  the 
whole  land  at  an  annual  rent  of  33s.  4d.  It  was  also  stated  on 
oath  that  "one  John  Muudy  late  of  Marke  Eaton  Esqr,"  in  the 
year  1654,  "  being  then  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Allestry  aforesaid 
and  a  powerfull  man  and  takeiug  advantage  of  the  then  rebellious 
and  distracted  tymes,  caused  the  then  Tenant  of  the  said  Sawcy 
Hill  to  Attorne  Tennt  to  him,  and  since  that  tyme  the  said  John 
Mundy  received  the  Bents  of  the  said  grounds  and  withheld  the 
same  from  the  parish  Church  of  Allestry  till  the  tyme  of  his 
death,  which  was  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  March  then  last,  and 
that  after  his  death  William  Mundy  Esqr,  Son  and  Heire  of  the 
said  John  Mundy,  possessed  himselfe  of  the  said  grounde  and 
withheld  the  same  till  he  dyed,  which  was  the  two  and  twentieth 
day  of  September  last  past,  After  whose  death  Francis  Mundy 
Esq1,  Son  and  Heire  of  the  said  William  Mundy,  possessed  himself 
of  the  said  Sawcy  Hill,"  and  still  withheld  it  from  the  church  of 
S.  Edmund's. 

It  was  further  proved  by  "ancient  witnesses"  that  a  cottage 
and  certain  lands  situate  in  Micklemeadow,  Abbeyfield,  Crosshill- 
field,  etc.,  etc.,  in  Allestree,  had  also  belonged  to  the  church  for  its 
repair  from  time  immemorial.  The  wardens  leased  this  property, 
10  Charles  I.,  to  one  Thomas  Peate  for  twenty-one  years,  at  a 
rental  of  40s.,  and  at  its  expiration,  in  consideration  -of  a  fine  of 
£20  laid  out  upon  the  church,  renewed  the  same  for  life.  Four 
years  later  that  lease  expired,  and  then  John  Mundy  got  the  then 
tenant  to  "  Attorne "  to  him  the  property,  and  it  had  been  with- 
held from  the  church  ever  since. 

Evidence  was  also  given  on  oath  of  the  value  of  the  lands  whilst 


ALLESTREE.  295 

they  were  held  by  the  Mundys,  and  that  "John  Mundy  dyed  pos- 
sessed of  a  very  great  personal!  estate,  and  that  Gilbert  Mundy  of 
Allestry  gent1  and  Edward  Mundy  gent1,  Two  of  his  younger 
Sonnes,  Adniinistred  of  a  great  part  thereof  to  the  value  of  above 
Six  Thousand  pounds." 

The  Commissioners,  after  hearing  all  the  evidence  that  could  be 
adduced  by  the  Mundys,  and  after  having  adjourned  their  sitting 
at  the  request  of  Sir  Simon  Degge,  counsel  for  the  defendants, 
until  January,  met  finally  on  May  5th,  1683,  and  decreed  that 
Francis  Mundy  should  within  one  month  yield  up  to  the  Church- 
wardens of  Allestree  the  whole  of  the  lands  in  dispute,  "  from 
henceforth  forever  hereafter  to  be  imployed  disbursed  and  layd 
forth  in  repairs  of  the  said  parish  Church  of  Allestry,"  and  further 
that  Gilbert  and  Edward  Mundy,  as  administrators  of  Jphn  Mundy, 
should  within  one  month  pay  to  the  churchwardens  £63  13s.  4d., 
for  the  rents  received  by  John  Mundy  in  his  lifetime,  and  a  further 
sum  of  £7  for  the  costs  of  the  suit.* 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Edmund,  and  not  to  S. 
Andrew,  as  has  been  several  times  asserted  of  late  years,  was  con- 
siderably rebuilt  and  enlarged  in  1866-7,  and  now  consists  of  nave, 
north  and  south  aisles,  south  porch,  chancel  with  north  chapel  and 
south  vestry,  and  tower  at  the  west  end.  Its  dimensions,  as  taken 
by  Mr.  Eawlius  in  1825,  were — nave,  33  ft.  7  in.  by  19  ft.  3  in.  ; 
north  aisle,  56  ft,  by  9  ft. ;  and  chancel,  30  ft.  7  in.  by  16  ft.  9  in. 
When  the  church  was  rebuilt  in  1865-6,  a  south  aisle  was  added. 
The  only  parts  of  the  old  fabric  now  remaining  are  the  south 
doorway,  parts  of  the  east  wall  of  the  chancel,  and  the  tower. 
From  south  views  of  the  old  church,  taken  by  Messrs.  Meynell  and 
Rawlins,  as  well  as  from  an  artistic  south-west  drawing  taken  just 
before  its  demolition,  f  we  find  that  the  chancel  had  a  priest's  door 
in  the  south  wall,  flanked  by  two  two-light  pointed  windows  of. 
fourteenth  century  date.  In  the  south  wall  of  the  nave  was  a 
three-light  window  of  the  same  style  and  date.  The  chancel  had 
a  steep-pitch  roof,  but  the  walls  of  the  nave  had  been  raised  in 
the  Perpendicular  period,  and  three  square-headed  clerestory  windows 
inserted  below  the  embattled  parapet. 

Sir  Stephen  Glynn,  who  visited  Allestree  May  6th,   1866,  says : — 

*  From  "  A  true  Coppy  examined  by  Jo:  Hayne,  Clerke  to  y«  Commissioners,"  in 
the  parish  chest  at  Mackworth.  There  is  a  modern  copy  of  the  same  decree  with  the 
parish  papers  at  Allestree. 

t  Drawings  of  the  Derby  Facsimile  Society,  vol.  i.  The  same  volume  also  contains 
a  very  good  drawing  of  the  Norman  doorway,  and  another  plate  of  the  old  font  and 
other  details  by  Mr.  Bailey. 


296  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

"  This  church  at  the  above  date  was  dismantled,  the  nave  in 
course  of  rebuilding,  but  not  far  advanced.  The  tower  remaining 
entire,  and  the  chancel  partially  so.  On  the  south  of  the  nave  a 
very  fine  Norman  doorway  is  preserved;  the  outer  moulding  has  a 
kind  of  wheel  ornament,  another  has  bold  beak-heads  011  a  cylinder 
— the  inner  shallow  chevrons,  and  with  one  order  of  shafts.  The 
tower  is  plain  and  poor,  of  three  stages,  with  meagre  parapet  and 
four  ugly  pinnacles  (now  removed),  no  west  window  or  door. 
Good  base  mouldings,  flattish  buttresses.  Belfry  windows  of  two 
unfoiled  lights,  except  on  the  east,  which  is  a  single  long  trefoiled 
light.  In  the  stage  below  the  belfry  are  plain  slit  openings.  The 
tower  is  enlarged  at  the  west  end  of  the  north  aisle,  rising  on 
short  pointed  arches,  the  one  opening  to  the  nave  on  octagonal 
corbels  with  bold  male  and  female  heads,  fairly  sculptured." 

The  corbel-heads,  mentioned  by  Sir  Stephen  Glynn,  were  unfor- 
tunately removed  after  his  visit.  The  old  south  doorway  is  a 
particularly  good  specimen  of  late  Norman  work.  The  carving  of 
the  jambs  is  unique  and  specially  noteworthy.  It  has  been  supposed 
to  represent  the  parable  of  the  Sower,  and  the  devil  plucking  the 
seed  out  of  the  hearts  of  the  hearers;  but  we  scarcely  think  it  will 
bear  any  other  interpretation  than  the  caprice  of  the  sculptor. 
The  tower  is  undoubtedly,  in  the  main,  of  the  Early  English  style 
of  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century. 

The  left  hand  side  of  the  road  leading  to  Mackworth,  on  the 
verge  of  the  village  of  Allestree,  is  flanked  by  a  stone  wall  that 
is  obviously  composed  of  previously  well-cut  masonry.  Here  we 
noted  a  large  stone,  upon  which  are  carved  in  relief  three  quatre- 
foils  in  panels.  Another  stone  is  sciilptured  with  a  free  running 
pattern.  We  believe  that  the  first  of  these  stones  formed  part 
of  the  coping,  and  the  other,  part  of  the  doorway  jamb,  of  a 
fourteenth  century  stone  screen  or  septum  (like  that  at  Chelmor- 
ton),  which  used  to  divide  the  chancel  from  the  nave.  Probably 
it  was  turned  out  when  the  church  was  thoroughly  re-pewed,  etc., 
in  1637. 

Some  remains  of  black-letter  texts  in  ornamental  borders  were 
found  on  each  side  of  the  east  chancel  window.  They  were  of 
Elizabethan  date.  There  was  also  some  scroll  work  at  the  west 
end  of  the  nave.  In  the  south  chancel  wall  is  a  piscina  with  a 
trefoiled  head;  the  lower  part  has  been  renewed.  In  the  north 
wall  of  the  church  was  found  a  well-designed  incised  cross,  having 
the  floriated  limbs  of  the  head  in  a  circle.  It  seems  to  be  of 


ALLESTREE.  297 

Norman  date,  and  is  probably  coeval  with  the  south  doorway.  It 
now  rests  under  a  founder's  sepulchral  arch  in  the  north  wall  of 
the  chancel.  Possibly  this  stone  may  have  been  originally  over  the 
interment  of  the  first  builder  of  a  church  or  chapel  on  this  site, 
but  the  plainly-moulded  archway,  beneath  which  it  now  rests,  is  of 
much  later  date,  and  was  constructed  for  the  founder  or  rebuilder 
of  this  church  at  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth  century.  When 
Bassano  was  here  in  1710,  he  noted,  under  this  arch,  "  an  old 
tomb  of  stone  raised  one  foot  high,  and  a  little  above  centre  of 
arch,  upon  a  stone  appearing  o'lt  of  ye  wall,  on  a  shield  is  a  chev- 
ron, and  in  ye  uppermost  part  of  south  window  of  chancel  in  glass  is 
Ermine  a  chevron  gules.  Ye  same  are  in  north  window  of  church, 
and  in  another  north  window  Argent  a  chevron  between  three 
eagles  displayed  sable  (Franceys  of  Allestree)."  *  The  first  of  these 
coats  is  that  of  Touchet,  of  Mackworth,  and  Bassano's  description 
makes  it  certain  that  the  rebuilder  of  this  church  was  one  of  that 
family,  as  might  be  expected  from  their  owning  the  subordinate 
manor  of  Allestree. 

The  old  font,  which  stood  at  the  west  end  of  the  north  aisle, 
was  a  good  and  rather  unusual  specimen  of  fifteenth  century  work- 
manship. Mr.  Meynell  took  a  drawing  of  it  in  1814.  It  was  of 
octagon  shape,  and  on  each  face  was  a  six-leaved  rose  within  a 
quatrefoil ;  the  margin  was  embattled.  It  was  in  very  fairly  good 
condition  at  the  time  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  church,  but  was  unfor- 
tunately discarded  for  one  of  modern  manufacture.  The  old  font 
was  handed  over  to  the  clergyman  of  an  adjacent  parish,  since 
promoted  to  the  Colonial  Episcopate,  in  the  expectation  that  it  was 
to  be  used  in  another  church.  On  inquiry,  we  find  that  its  new 
possessor  absolutely  ordered  its  demolition,  lest  it  should  be  used 
"  for  any  superstitious  purposes ! "  And  thus  ends  the  history  of 
this  well- chiselled  stone  font,  wherein  for  four  centuries  the  Church 
had  dedicated  the  little  ones  of  Allestree  to  God  ;  it  fell  a  victim 
to  Puritanical  ignorance.  But  possibly  better  so,  than  that  it . 
should  have  survived  to  meet  with  the  painful  desecration  to  which 
so  many  old  Derbyshire  fonts  have  been  exposed,  as  mentioned  in 
these  pages. 


*  The  wide-spread  and  wealthy  family  of  Frances,  of  Derbyshire,  is  first  met  with 
at  Osmaston.  The  chief  branches  of  the  family  were  for  many  centuries  at  Ticken- 
hall,  Foremark,  and  Ingleby,  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  459-63,  467-8, 
etc.  One  of  the  rather  conflicting  pedigrees  of  this  family  at  the  College  of  Arms 
styles  Robert  Franceys,  temp.  Edward  III.,  as  "  de  Allestree  et  de  Formarke;"  and 
both  William  and  Hugo  Franceys,  father  and  grandfather  of  Robert,  are  also  styled 
"de  Allestree  "  in  another  pedigree  (Harl.  MSS..  1,537,  f.  3). 


298  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHKS. 

In  the  chancel  are  a  large  number  of  mural  monuments,  as  well 
as  some  slabs  on  the  floor  within  the  altar  rails,  to  the  Mundy 
family: — John  Muudy,  1681,  aged  81,  eldest  son  of  Francis  Mundy, 
of  Markeaton — Anne,  youngest  child  of  Sir  Francis  Coke,  and  wife 
of  John  Mundy,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  1615  (the  date 
now  gone)— Adrian  Mundy,  of  Quarndon,  third  son  of  Francis 
Mundy,  another  grandson  of  Edward  Mundy  of  the  Mackworth 
monument,  1677  * — William  Mundy,  sou  and  heir  of  John  Mundy, 
1682  ;  but  the  date  is  now  missing — Frances,  wife  of  William  and 
mother  of  Francis  Mundy,  1672  ;  she  was  the  daughter  of  Gilbert 
Coke,  second  son  of  Sir  Francis  Coke,  of  Trusley — Mary,  the  wife 
of  Gilbert  Mundy,  of  Allestree,  1695  ;  Gilbert  was  High  Sheriff  of 
Derbyshire  in  1697,  and  one  of  the  younger  sons  of  John  Mundy  ; 
from  him  is  descended  the  Shipley  branch  of  the  family — Gilbert, 
son  of  Gilbert  Mundy,  of  Allestree,  1701—"  Collonel  Eobert  Mundy," 
third  son  of  Gilbert  Mundy,  Esq.,  of  this  town,  1708  —  Wrightson 
Charles  Mundy,  third  son  of  Wrightson  Muudy,  1755 — four  children 
of  Francis  Mundy  and  Sarah  his  wife,  1804-23 — Francis  Muudy, 
1837,  and  his  wife  Sarah,  1836.. 

Several  of  the  Mundy  memorials  seem  to  have  disappeared .  of 
late  years.  We  failed  to  notice  the  following,  which  were  described 
in  1812  by  Mr.  Meynell :— Gilbert  Mundy,  of  Allestree,  1709— 
Wrightson  Mundy,  fourth  son  of  Francis  Mundy,  1750 — Wrightson 
Mundy,  1762,  and  Ann  his  wife,  1759 — Betty,  first  wife  of  Francis 
Noel  Clarke  Mundy,  1768 — Elizabeth,  second  wife  of  the  same, 
1807. 

It  is  rather  curious  that  the  Mundys  of  Markeaton,  after  using 
Mackworth  church  for  interment  for  three  generations,  should  have 
then  moved  to  the  parochial  chapel  of  Allestree. 

In  the  north  chancel  chapel  are  several  modern  memorials  to 
the  family  of  Evans,  of  Allestree  Hall. 

There   are   three  bells   in   the   tower,   thus   inscribed : — 

I.  "  Mary  :    Sadler,    Churchwarden.      G.    Hedderly    fecit    Nottm, 
1790." 

II.  "  God   save   His    Church,    1711  " 

III.  "  I  to  the  Church  the  living  call 

&  to  the  grave  do  summons  all,   1781. 

Joseph  &  Francis  Sadler,   Churchwardens.     Tho8  Hedderly  founder 
Nottm."     The   weight   of  this  bell   is   8  cwt.    26  Ibs. 

The    registers   of    the   parochial   chapelry    of    Allestree    begin    in 

*  Nichols'  pedigree  gives  the  date  of  his  death,  iu  error,  as  1662. 


ALLESTREE.  299 

1596,  and  are  in  fair  condition.  In  the  early  pages  we  find  the 
names  of  John  Ridge  and  John  Botham  as  curates.  Jasper 
Horsington  is  described  as  "curate  of  Allestree,  vicar  of  Mackworth, 
curate  of  Quarndon,  and  one  of  ye  Friday  Lecturers  at  All  Saints 
in  Derby."  In  1634  William  Darby  shire  was  curate.  There  are 
very  few  entries  between  1643  and  1651.  Under  the  year  1685 
occurs  the  following  entry : — 

"A  copie  of  this  register  was  taken  to  ye  Visitation  of  y6  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury held  by  Dr  Lake  Bishop  of  Bristol  at  All  Sts  Church  in  Derby  y«  11th 
day  of  September,  Bishop  Wood*  being  suspended.  The  Profits  sequestred  in 
order  to  build  ye  Palace  which  ye  Bishop  neglected." 

There  is  a  volume  of  Churchwardens'  Accounts,  beginning  in 
1618,  but  having  many  gaps,  and  in  a  fragmentary  condition.  In 
1618  the  total  sum  laid  out  on  the  church  was  £1  16s.  7d.,  of 
which  2s.  8d.  was  for  "  mending  bel  frame."  The  church  seems  to 
have  been  repewed  in  1637,  when  the  total  account  was  £15  13s.  4d. 

1637.  For  boards  and  timber  church  repair     ...             ..  '  ...  ...  i'9    0    o 

,,      At  the  Articleing  about  y*  seats               ...             ...             ...  ...  4 

„      At  severall  times  upon  the  workmen  in  Ale        ...            ...  •...  1    0 

„      One  load  of  bords  out  of  Kedleston  park             ...            ...  ..  20 

1643.  For  Glasinge  the  Church  widdoes            ...             ...            ...  ...  12    0 

1662.  July  2d  An  assessment  then  granted  for  the  settinge  upp  of  the  Kings  Armes 
and  some  necessary  repayres  about  the  Church. 

*  "  Eesiding  at  Hackney,  in  Middlesex,  in  a  mean  house  in  which  he  was  born, 
Sancroft,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  called  him  to  repair  to  his  diocese  ;  which  man- 
date the  bishop  disobeying,  the  archbishop  suspended  him,  and  imposed  the  building 
of  the  present  palace  of  Lichfield  upon  him,  as  a  fine  for  the  waste  of  the  woods 
belonging  to  the  see." — Harwood's  History  of  Lichfield,  p.  156.  Bishop  Wood  was 
suspended  by  Archbishop  Sancroft,  on  July  9th,  1684— pro  absentia  sua  a  sua  Diocesi 
neglectu  officii  sui  et  omnibus  aliis  criminibus  contra  eum  allegatis  et  probalis  (San- 
croft's  Register,  Lambeth  Library,  f .  308).  The  history  of  this  miserable  man,  both  as 
Dean  of  Lichfield  and  subsequently  as  Bishop,  is  almost  incredible  and  most  painful. 
He  has  fairly  been  termed  "an  episcopal  old  heathen."— See  Waters'  Genealogical 
Memoirs  of  Chester  of  Chicheley, 


|T  the  time  of  the  Domesday  Survey  (1086)  the  manor  of 
Mickleover,  with  its  berewicks  of  Littleover,  Findern,  and 
Potlock,  was  held  by  the  Abbot  of  Burton.  In  the  time 
of  Edward  the  Confessor  it  had  been  a  royal  manor,  worth  twenty- 
five  pounds,  but  it  was  then  only  estimated  at  ten  pounds.  Probably 
this  depreciation  in  value  was  caused  by  the  havoc  incidental  on 
the  incursion  of  the  Normans,  especially  as  we  find  mention  made 
of  the  sites  of  two  mills.  No  church  or  chapel  is  named  in  the 
Domesday  Book  as  then  extant  on  the  manor.  Perhaps  the 
ecclesiastical  buildings  had  shared  the  fate  of  the  mills,  or  it  may 
be  only  one  of  the  instances  of  omissions  to  note  churches  by  the 
Domesday  scribes.  At  all  events,  we  know  that  there  were  four 
houses  of  God  on  this  manor  in  the  reign  of  William  the  Con- 
queror ;  for  that  monarch  gave  to  the  monks  of  Burton  the  town 
of  Mickleover,  with  its  church  ;  the  town  of  Littleover,  with  its 
chapel  ;  the  town  of  Findern,  with  its  chapel ;  and  the  town  of 
Potlock,  with  its  chapeL* 

From  the  taxation  roll  of  Pope  Nicholas  IV.  (1291),  where 
Mickleover  is  spoken  of  as  an  ecclesia,  and  not  a  vicarage,  it 
would  appear  that  the  tithes  had  not  then  been  appropriated  to 
the  monastery,  but  that  the  abbot  had  merely  the  presentation  to 
the  rectory.  At  that  date  the  rectory  was  valued  at  £16  13s.  4d., 
and  the  various  temporalities  of  the  manor  at  a  total  of 
£19  17s.  lOd.  In  the  next  century,  we  find  the  tithes  appro- 
priated, and  a  vicar  nominated  by  the  abbot,  in  whose  hands 
would  doubtless  be  the  appointment  of  chaplains  for  the  three 
chapelries. 

*  Dugdale's  Monasticon  vol.  i.  pp.  271,  272. 


304  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

According  to  the  Valor  Ecdesiasticus  (27  Henry  VIII.)  the  rectory 
of  Mickleover  cum  membris  was  of  the  annual  value  of  £8  13s.  4cl.  ; 
and  the  manor,  according  to  one  estimate,  brought  into  the  monas- 
tery an  annual  total  of  £46  16s.  2d.,  and,  according  to  another 
estimate,  the  larger  sum  of  £56  5s.  Id.  The  vicarage,  which 
was  endowed  with  the  tithes  of  hay,  pigs,  geese,  flax,  hemp,  lambs, 
and  wool,  together  with  the  Easter  offerings,  and  certain  of  the 
tithes  of  grain,*  was  estimated  at  the  yearly  value  of  £9  11s.  6d. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  give  the 
following  inventory  of  this  church  : — 

"  Mykylover.     Oct.  5.     Sir  Nicholas  Coton  Vicar. 

"  j  chalys  of  sylver  with  the  patent — ij  lytle  bells  in  the  steple — ij  copes — iiij 
vestments  of  sylke  of  dyverse  colors — ij  surples — ij  albes — j  amyses — j  cross  of 
bras — ij  alter  clothes — ij  towels — ij  handbells — ij  copes  be  off  sylke  (sarcenet) 
&  off  dyverse." 

The  Parliamentary  Commission  of  1650,  to  inquire  into  the  value 
of  benefices,  thus  reports  of  this  parish  : — 

"Mickleworth  is  a  viccaridge  having  two  chappells  apperteyuing,  really  worth 
one  hundred  pounds  per  annum  (vizt)  Mickleover  itselfe  fiftye  pounds,  Littleover 
twentye  fowre  pounds,  and  Finderne  six  and  twentye  pounds.  M*  William 
Harcott  is  viccar,  a  man  insufficient  and  scandalous.  Finderne  being  two  myles 
distant  may  conveniently  be  united  to  Willington  lying  neare  it." 

On  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  Henry  VIII.  granted  the 
manor  of  Mickleover,  with  its  appurtenances,  including  the  ap- 
propriated tithes  and  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage,  to  his  secre- 
tary, Sir  William  Paget.  Thomas,  Lord  Paget,  sold  the  property 
to  Sir  Thomas  Gresham.  It  then  devolved  to  Sir  William  Eeade, 
Lady  Gresham's  son  by  a  second  husband.  Sir  William's  daughter 
and  heiress  married  Sir  Michael  Stanhope,  who  had  three  daugh- 
ters, his  co-heiresses,  between  whom  these  estates  were  divided. 
In  1648,  Edward  Wilmot  purchased  two  of  these  shares  (Little- 
over  and  Findern),  of  whose  descendant,  Sir  Eobert  Wilmot,  of 
Chaddesden,  they  were  purchased  in  1801  by  Edward  Sacheverell 
Chandos  Pole.  The  remaining  third  (Mickleover)  was  sold  in 
1648  to  Sir  John  Curzon,  but  was  re-purchased  of  the  Curzons  by 
Mr.  Newton,  who  died  in  1789.  The  ancestor  of  Mr.  Newton, 
Robert  Newton,  who  died  in  1619,  had  previously  inherited  the 
manor-house  of  Mickleover  by  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  William 
Gilbert,  to  whom  it  had  been  sold  by  Sir  Thomas  Gresham.  Mr. 

*  We  find  from  subsequent  documents,  that  the  vicar  of  Mickleover  was  endowed 
with  one-third  of  the  rectorial  tithes  (i.e.,  tithes  of  grain),  a  most  exceptional  arrange- 
ment, making  this  benefice  unusually  wealthy  for  a  vicarage. 


MICKLEOVER.  305 

Newton  did  not,  however,  purchase  the  share  of  the  impropriate 
tithes  and  advowson  of  the  Curzons,-  so  that  Lord  Scarsdale  still 
holds  one  turn  in  the  presentation  to  the  vicarage,  and  the  Poles 
the  remaining  two. 

The  following  is  as  complete  a  list  of  the  vicars  as  we  have 
been  able  to  compile  from  the  Episcopal  Kegisters,  and  the  returns 
of  the  First  Fruits  Office.  The  abbots  of  Burton  being  always 
patrons  in  pre-Beformation  days,  it  has  not  been  thought  necessary 
to  repeat  their  names  as  patrons  : — 

1350.  John  le  Parker.     Collated  by  the  Bishop. 
1361.  John  Hardynge.     On  the  death  of  J.  le  P. 

.  John  de  Weylonby. 

1375.  William  de  Rosteleston.    On  the  death  of  John  de  W. 
1375.  John  de  Wylynton.    W.  de  B.,  the  previous  vicar,  died  of  the  plague  at  a 

time  when  it  was  raging  in  Derbyshire. 
1389.  Alan  Leeke. 
1400.  John    de    Fyndern.      On  the   resignation    of   Alan    Leeke,    to   whom    was 

secured  a  pension  out  of  the  fruits  of  the  vicarage. 

1422.  Thomas  Crull. 

1423.  William  Cook,  rector   of  Crofte,   Lincoln,  exchanged  benefices  with  T.  C., 
vicar  of  Mickleover. 

1428   William  Hawton. 

.  John  Turner. 

1436.  James  Foljambe.    On  the  resignation  of  J.  T. 
1438.  Richard  Somersale.    On  the  resignation  of  J.  F. 
....  William  Gadesby.    On  the  death  of  B.  S. 
1440.  Richard  Roton.    On  the  resignation  of  W.  G. 
1449.  Thomas  Sharpe.    On  the  resignation  of  B.  B. 

.  Richard  Hethcote. 

1489.  Richard  Wode.    On  the  death  of  B.  H. 
1505.  Christopher  Chaveney.    On  the  death  of  B.  W. 

1526.  Nicholas  Coton;  patrons,  Sir  Anthony  Fitzherbert,  Bichard  Coton,  and 
Bichard  Clerke  de  Hamstall  Bidware,  by  grant  from  the  Abbey  of  Burton. 
On  the  death  of  C.  C. 

1554.  John  Fenton ;  patron,  Bichard  Barslowe,  by  arrangement  with  the  dissolved 
Abbey  of  Burton. 

.  Robert  Bannecroft.    Buried  April,  1607.    Parish  Registers. 
1650.  William  Harcott.     Parliamentary  Commission. 
165-.  Samuel  Charles;*  patron,  Sir  John  Curzon. 

1662.  Samuel  Bold;  patron,  Edward  Wilmot.     On  the  ejection  of  S.  C. 
1667.  Thomas  Hosier;  patron,  Edward  Wilmot. 
1669.  Elizeus  Farneworth ;  patron,  Bichavd  Carrow,  for  this  turn. 
1691.  John  Ward ;  patron,  John  Wilmot. 
1740.  Richard  Wilmot;  patron,  Bobert  Wilmot,  for  this  turn. 

*  Samuel  Charles  was  born  at  Chesterfield  in  1633,  and  educated  at  Corpus  Christi 
College,  Cambridge.  He  was  ordained,  after  the  Presbyterian  manner,  in  1655,  and 
first  served  the  church  at  Kniveton.  Then  he  resided  in  Sir  John  Gell's  house  at 
Hopton,  from  whence  he  was  promoted  to  Mickleover  vicarage  by  Sir  John  Curzon. 
After  his  ejection  he  chiefly  lived  at  Hull,  where  he  was  much  persecuted  for  his 
nonconformity,  once  undergoing  a  term  of  six  months'  imprisonment.  Calamy's 
Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  182-7. 
21 


306  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

1772.  John  Ward;   patron,  Richard    Stanton    Wilmot    Sitwell,  for  this  turn.      On 

the  death  of  R.  W. 
1820.  Frederick   Emanuel    Hippolyte   Curzon ;    patron,   Sir  Robert   Wilmot,  of 

Chaddesden.      On  the  death  of  J.  W. 
1872.  Reginald   Canning   Bindley;    patron,   Lord   Scarsdale.      On    the    death  of 

F.  E.  H.  C. 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  All  Saints,  consists  of  nave, 
north  and  south  aisles,  south  porch,  chancel,  with  north  vestry, 
and  tower  at  the  west  end.  It  underwent  an  extensive  restoration 
in  1858,  and  is  justly  described  by  Sir  Stephen  Glynn,  who  visited 
it  in  1864,  as  "a  respectable  church,  fairly  restored,  and  in  good 
order."  A  new  porch  was  built,  at  the  time  of  the  restoration,  in 
place  of  a  comparatively  modern  one  of  brick,  the  north  aisle  was 
lengthened,  a  north  vestry  built,  and  other  extensive  repairs,  both 
internal  and  external,  were  then  effected. 

All  the  old  features  of  this  church  are  of  the  same  date,  viz.,  of 
the  Decorated  style,  circa  1310-30.  Mr.  Meynell  mentions  a  tra- 
dition that  the  older  church  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  this  is 
corroborated  by  the  evident  fact  that  the  church  was  not  in  any 
way  "restored"  about  that  date,  but  completely  rebuilt.  Unfor- 
tunately our  efforts  to  obtain  a  sight  of  the  old  chartulary  of 
Burton  Abbey,  which  ought  to  be  among  the  Anglesea  muniments, 
have  been  unavailing  ;  and  it  would  be  there,  if  anywhere,  that  we 
might  naturally  expect  to  find  evidence  respecting  such  a  catas- 
trophe. In  the  south  wall  of  the  south  aisle  are  a  pair  of  two- 
light  pointed  Decorated  windows,  without  any  foliation.  In  the 
south  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  two-light  window,  and  another  of 
three-lights  of  the  same  character.  The  priest's  doorway  is 
circular  headed,  but  is  nevertheless  of  Decorated  date.  The 
arrangement  of  the  hood-mould  over  this  doorway,  which  runs  on 
into  the  string  course,  is  rather  peculiar.  At  the  south-east  angle 
of  the  chancel  is  a  good  rectangular  buttress.  On  the  north  side 
of  the  chancel  is  an  old  two  light  pointed  window  corresponding 
with  the  others.  The  east  window  is  of  three  lights  and  filled 
with  geometrical  tracery;  this  window,  as  well  as  the  windows  of 
the  north  aisle,  and  those  at  the  east  and  west  end  of  the  south 
aisle,  were  new  in  1858. 

A  south-east  drawing  of  this  church,  taken  in  1820,  by  Mr. 
Meynell,  and  one  taken  in  1825  by  Mr.  Eawlins,  show  us  a  single 
steep-pitched  lead-covered  roof,  covering  both  nave  and  aisles,  with 
a  dormer  window  in  the  roof,  which  probably  gave  light  to  a 


MICKLEOVER.  307 

gallery.  On  the  west  wall  of  the  tower  was  the  weather-line  of 
the  older  high-pitched  roof.  There  was  a  debased  square-headed 
window  of  three-lights  in  the  south  wall  of  the  aisle,  and  the  east 
chancel  window  was  a  tall  narrow  pointed  one  of  two  lights.  Mr. 
Eawlins  describes  the  entrance  from  the  nave  to  the  chancel  as 
being  through  a  wooden  arch,  near  to  which  were  the  remains  of 
a  piscina. 

The  nave  has  on  each  side  an  arcade  of  four  pointed  arches, 
three  being  uniform,  and  supported  on  octagonal  pillars,  but  the 
eastern  ones  narrow  and  springing  at  once  from  the  wall.  These 
arcades  were  considerably  restored  in  1858,  especially  on  the  north 
side.  On  the  north  side  of  the  chancel  is  a  stone  lectern,  sup- 
ported by  a  corbel  head,  and  just  beyond  it  a  large  square 
almery  recess  (Plate  II.)  Against  the  east  wall,  to  the  north 
side  of  the  window,  is  a  finely  moulded  large  bracket,  supported 
by  a  female  head.  Against  the  south  wall  is  a  piscina,  having  a 
trefoiled  arch,  an  octofoil  drain,  and  a  stone  credence  shelf,  which 
stretches  across  the  outside  of  the  moulding.  The  sill  of  the  south 
chancel  window  has  been  cut  down  for  a  sedilia  bench.  In  the 
vestry,  over  the  chimney-piece,  is  a  stone  corbel,  carved  into  a 
female  head,  with  the  horned  head-dress  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  archway  into  the  tower  is  a  narrow  pointed  one,  springing 
from  corbels.  The  west  window  is  of  the  same  character  and 
date  as  the  other  old  windows  of  the  nave  and  chancel.  The 
tower  is  supported  at  the  west  by  shallow  rectangular  buttresses, 
which  die  down  into  the  wall-plate.  The  whole  of  the  tower  is  of 
the  Decorated  period,  though  the  embattlements  and  short  pin- 
nacles have  doubtless  been  renewed  at  a  later  date. 

The  font  is  a  modern  one,  its  predecessor  having  been  unfor- 
tunately discarded.  The  old  font  may  still  be  seen,  in  very  fairly 
good  condition,  in  a  cottage  garden  to  the  left  of  the  entrance  to 
the  churchyard.  It  is  an  octagon  chalice- shaped  font,  of  Decorated 
date,  28  in.  in  diameter,  and  standing  32  in.  above  the  garden 
mould  in  which  it  is  planted.  It  serves  as  a  flower  vase. 

When  Bassano  was  here  in  1710,  he  noted  on  one  of  the  beams 
of  the  roof — "yules  a  cross  floure  or."  It  seems  probable  that  this 
was  intended  for  the  arms  of  the  old  family  of  Burnaston,  of 
Burnastou. 

Dr.  Pegge,  circa  1775,  says  of  this  church — "there  were  inscrip- 
tions on  tombstones  of  ye  Newton s  in  ye  Chancel,  but  they  are 


308  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

quite    worne    out    by   boys    trampling    and    playing   therein,    school 
being  frequently  taught  there."  * 

There  are  now  no  old  monuments  within  the  church. 

In  the  tower  are  three  bells  : — 

I.  "God    save    the    Church,    1657,"    and    the    mark    of    George 
Oldfield. 

II.  "John  Campion  C.  W.  Thomas  Hedderley,  Founder,  1742." 

III.  "Jhesus    be   our   spede,    1591,"   and   the    mark    of    Henry 
Oldfield. 

The  registers  begin  on  May  3rd,  1607. 

*  Pegge's  MSS.,  vol.  v.,  f.  193. 


LITTLEOVER.  309 


Cfjapcto   of  Utttlcofoer. 


I  HE  RE     is     no     ecclesiastical     history     pertaining     to     this 
ciiapelry  of   which  we    are    aware,  other   than  that  which 
has    been    already  recorded    under    the    mother  church  of 
Mickleover. 

The  <Jhurch  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  say: — 

"  Lytall  Ovar.     Oct.  5.     J.  Stones  prest  &  curate. 

"j  chales  of  sylver  with  the  paten — ij  lytill  bells  in  the  steple — j  hand  bell — 
ij  vestements — j  surples — j  of  the  vestments  of  black  chamlett,  &  y*  other  of  rede 
crule  and  grene — j  crosse  of  brasse — ij  towells — ij  aulter  cloythes — j  cope  of  rede 
saye — j  lytell  sacrynge  bell — j  corporas — j  cruett — j  old  torne  vestment  of  rede 
sylke." 

The  church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Peter,  consists  of  nave, 
north  aisle,  chancel  with  north  vestry,  and  bell  turret  on  the  west 
gable.  The  dimensions  of  the  ground  plan  are — nave  38  ft.  9  in. 
by  16  ft.  3  in.  ;  north  aisle  35  ft.  6  in.  by  5  ft.  ;  and  chancel 
24  ft.  5  in.  by  15  ft.  2  in. 

In  the  west  gable  of  the  nave  is  a  round-headed  Norman  door- 
way, rather  late  in  the  style.  It  is  now  blocked  up.  The  indented 
capitals  and  the  bases  to  the  jamb  shafts  remain,  but  the  shafts 
themselves  are  missing.  The  font,  which  is  a  massive  circular 
one,  is  also  of  this  period.  It  is  35  inches  in  diameter,  and  the 
same  iu  height. 

The  chancel  and  nave  windows  are  of  the  14th  century,  and  are 
of  much  the  same  style  and  date  as  those  of  Mickleover.  The 
church  seems  to  have  been  very  thoroughly  restored  in  the 
Decorated  period.  There  is  a  pointed  priest's  doorway  in  the  south 
chancel  wall,  and  in  the  interior  is  a  plain  piscina  niche.  In 


310  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1872  the  north  organ  chamber  and  vestry  were  built,  the  chancel 
floor  tiled,  quire  stalls  introduced,  and  an  effective  reredos  placed 
below  the  east  window.  The  old  bell-turret  was  a  singularly  ugly 
square  wooden  erection,  as  we  learn  from  the  drawings  of  Messrs. 
Meynell  and  Kawlins. 

Against  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  is  a  costly  monument  to 
Sir  Richard  Harpur  and  his  lady.  The  knight  is  represented  in 
a  long  gown  with  hanging  sleeves,  and  the  lady  in  a  ruff,  black 
dress,  and  hood.  They  are  kneeling  at  a  desk,  on  which  are  the 
arms  of  Harpur  (an/.,  a  lion  rampant  within  a  bordure  engrailed, 
sab.)  impaling  Beresby  (gu.,  on  a  bend,  arg.,  three  cross  crosslets 
fitchee,  sab.)  Below  are  three  boys  kneeling,  an  infant  swathed  in 
its  chrysom,  and  three  girls  also  kneeling.  On  a  panel  is  the 
following  inscription  : — 

"Richardus  Harpur  Miles  justiciarius  Pacis  &  Quorum  ad  annos  triginta  & 
quinque  Justiciariorum  hujusce  Comitatus  dura  vixit  antiquissimus  necnon  ejusdem 
vice  prefectus  ad  annos  quamplurimos.  In  uxorem  duxit  Maria  filiam  Thomse 
Eeresby  de  Thribur  in  Comitatu  Eborocensi  armigeri,  prolemque  ex  ea  habuit 
quator  filias  &  tres  fllias.  Obiit  Martii  16°  A.D.  1635." 

There  is  also  on  the  monument  the  quartered  coat  of  Harpur, 
Findern,  Brock,  and  "Wellington.* 

Chief  Justice  Harpiir,  whose  monument  we  described  at  length 
under  Swarkeston  church,  had,  by  his  wife  Joan,  sister  and  heiress 
to  Thomas  Findern,  of  Findern,  two  sons,  Sir  John  Harpur,  of 
Swarkeston,  and  Sir  Eichard  Harpur,  of  Littleover.  The  Harpur 
property  at  Littleover  came  to  them  through  Fiudern,  and  the  Old 
Hah1  of  Littleover  was  built  by  the  Chief  Justice.  The  names  of 
the  sons  of  Sir  Eichard  Harpur  of  the  monument  were  Richard, 
John,  Henry,  and  Jasper,  who  all  died  without  issue,  except  John, 
who  became  rector  of  Moiiey,  and  of  whom  we  shall  have  more  to 
say  in  our  subsequent  account  of  that  church. 

On  a  tomb  in  this  church,  which  has  long  ago  disappeared, 
was  this  inscription,  as  read  in  1662: — 

"Hie  jacet  Ricus  Sanson  Ar:  et  Dorothea  uxor  ejus  filia  Radi  Sacheverel  de 
Radcliffe  Ar:  qui  Ricus  obiit "f 

Mary,  another  daughter  of  Ralph  Sacheverell,  by  Joan,  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Curzon,  of  Kedleston,  was  married  to  Thomas  Findern, 

*  See  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  499,  also  previous  account  of  the  monu- 
ment in  the  chancel  of  Denby  church.  This  monument  was  repaired  and  repainted 
in  1872,  and,  as  is  usually  the  case,  some  one  has  been  employed  who  was  ignorant  of 
heraldry,  so  that  several  of  the  tinctures  axe  wrong. 

t  Dodsworth's  MSS.,  Bodleian  Library,  as  quoted  in  Reliquary,  vol.  xii.,  p.  219. 


LITTLEOVEK.  311 

of  Findern,  and  hence  probably  ensued  the  marriage  of  her  sister 
Dorothy  with  a  gentleman  of  this  neighbourhood. 

In  Bassano's  Church  Notes  (1710)  it  is  mentioned  that  there 
was  "upon  ye  verge  of  ye  canopy  of  ye  pulpit — 'The  gift  of 
Kichard  Harpur,  Bachler.'"  This  would  be  the  eldest  son  of  Sir 
Eichard  of  the  monument.  He  died  in  1676,  and  there  used  to 
be  a  monument  to  his  memory  in  the  chancel. 

In  the  bell  turret  is  a  single  modern   bell. 

The  registers  date  from  the  year  1680.  Littleover  is  now  an 
ecclesiastical  parish,  and  the  benefice  an  independent  vicarage. 


312  DERBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 


of 


|LL  the  early  ecclesiastical  history  that  we  have  been  able 
to  glean  of  Findern — and  it  is  but  little — has  been  given 
under  the  mother  church  of  Mickleover.  It  is  now,  like 
Littleover,  an  independent  vicarage,  having  a  distinct  ecclesiastical 
parish  of  its  own. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  6  Edward  VI.,  give  the 
following  rather  full  inventory  of  this  chapel : — 

"Fyndern,  Oct.  5.    Ambrose  Bradshawe  curate. 

"  j  chalys  of  sylver  parcell  gylte  wyth  a  cover — j  vestyment  of  red  russett — 
j  vestyment  of  serge  imbroidired  whyth  sylke— j  coope  of  redde  russett — j  serples 
of  flaxen  clothe — iij  alter  clothez  of  flaxen — j  corporis  case  of  blacke  velvett— 
j  corporas  case  of  redde  sarcenett— j  canape  of  brass — ij  candelstycks  of  maslen* — 
ij  flaxen  towells — j  hand  bell — ij  bells  in  ye  steple — j  lytyll  sacryng  bell — j  pyxe 
of  maslen — j  sensor  of  maslen — j  crysmatonge  of  pewter — ij  cruetts  of  pewter." 

The  interesting  old  chapel,  which  was  dedicated  to  All  Saints, 
was  completely  swept  away  in  1862.1  Its  successor  consists 
of  a  nave,  chancel,  and  tower,  surmounted  by  a  spire,  at  the 
west  end.  The  dimensions  of  the  old  chapel,  according  to 
the  measurements  taken  by  Mr.  Eawlins  in  1818,  were — nave 
50  ft.  5  in.  by  17  ft.  9  in.  ;  and  chancel  26  ft.  2  in.  by 
14  ft.  1  in.  The  building  consisted  of  a  nave  and  chancel, 
and  a  square  wooden  bell  turret  over  the  west  gable.  There 
was  a  porch  on  the  south  side  of  the  nave,  but  this  was 


*  Maselin,  or  maslin,  was  the  name  of  a  metal,  the  precise  nature  of  which  is  rather 
uncertain.  It  seems  to  have  been  chiefly  tin. 

f  There  is  an  excellent  account  of  the  old  chapel  by  Mr.  L.  Jewitt  in  vol.  iii.  of  the 
Reliquary,  illustrated  with  several  woodcuts.  To  that  article,  and  to  the  descriptions 
and  drawings  of  Messrs.  Meynell  and  Eawlins,  we  are  indebted  for  our  account  of  the 
old  fabric. 


FINDERN.  313 

closed  up  aud  used  as  a  vestry,  the  only  entrance  being  at  the 
west  end.  There  was  a  plain  round-headed  priest's  doorway  on 
the  south  side  of  the  chancel,  but  that  was  also  built  up.  Mr. 
Meynell's  drawing,  taken  about  1820,  shows  that  the  south  side  of 
the  nave  was  lighted  by  a  three-light  square-headed  window  of 
debased  date,  and  the  chancel  by  a  similar  one  of  two  lights,  as 
well  as  by  a  much  smaller  one,  of  the  same  character,  to  the  right 
of  the  priest's  door.  The  three-light  east  window  of  the  chancel 
was  also  of  corresponding  style,  the  probable  date  being  the  middle 
of  the  seventeenth  century.  A  board  within  the  chancel  stated 
that  the  building  was  "Beautifyed  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1796." 
The  beautifying  chiefly  consisted  in  reseating  the  church,  in  making 
the  west  doorway,  with  an  ugly  window  over  it,  and  in  repairing 
the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  with  brick.  In  the  old  part  of  the 
north  chancel  wall  was  a  small  single-light  window  with  an 
angular  head,  which  must  have  been  here  when  this  chapel  was 
given  by  William  the  Conqueror  to  Burton  Abbey,  for  it  was  of 
Saxon  date.  At  the  west  end  was  a  Norman  corbel-table,  carved 
on  the  face  with  an  indented,  and  underneath  with  a  billet  mould- 
ing, and  supported  by  twelve  corbel  stones,  all  of  which  were 
carved  into  masks  and  heads,  except  a  remarkable  one  on  which 
were  two  figures  with  their  arms  "  a-kimbo,"  and  their  legs  con- 
tinued on  the  under  side  of  the  stone. 

In  the  north  wall  of  the  chancel  a  recessed  founder's  arch,  of  a 
rude  and  early  description,  was  found,  when  the  old  fabric  was 
being  pulled  down.  It  had  been  concealed  by  the  1796  pews,  to 
make  way  for  which  the  effigy  of  the  priest  within  the  recess  had 
been  most  rudely  mutilated.  Bassano  noted  this  in  1710  : — "  In  ye 
north  wall  of  ye  chancell,  under  an  arch  is  ye  effigy  of  a  priest, 
which  seems  to  be  very  antient."  The  remains  of  the  effigy 
showed,  however,  that  it  was  not  as  old  as  the  recess,  for  which 
it  had  not  been  originally  intended. 

On  the  chancel  floor  was  an  alabaster  slab,  incised  with  the 
effigy  of  a  lady,  but  very  much  worn.  Fortunately,  however,  the 
greater  part  of  the  marginal  inscription  was  still  legible : — 

"  Hie  jacet  Isabella  qudJa  ux'  Henrici  de  Bothe  armigeri  filia  Johis  de  Fyndern 
senior'  (?)  que  obiit  decimo  octavo  die  mentis  martii ppiciet'  De'  amen." 

At  the  four  corners  of  the  inscription  were  the  Evangelistic  sym- 
bols, and  to  the  right  of  the  figure  a  scroll  bearing  the  words, 
"  Jesu  mercy."  There  were  also  four  shields  on  the  slab.  The 


314  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

first  bore  Botlie  (arg.,  three  boars'  heads  erect  and  erased,  sab., 
with  a  crescent  for  difference)  impaling  Findern  (arg.,  a  chevron 
engrailed  between  three  crosses  formee  fitchee,  sab.),  the  second, 
entirely  defaced ;  the  third,  Bothe  impaling  Fitzherbert,  of  Nor- 
bury ;  and  the  fourth,  Bothe  impaling  a  defaced  coat. 

The  priest's  effigy  and  the  Botlie  slab  both,  alas !  disappeared 
in  1862. 

The  pedigrees  of  the  ancient  and  important  family  of  Findern, 
of  Findern,  do  not  carry  us  back  further  than  Kobert  de  Fyn- 
derne,  temp.  Edward  II.,*  but  we  have  incidental  allusions  to  them 
of  an  earlier  date.  Walter  de  Findern  was  one  of  the  witnesses  to 
a  charter  relative  to  Eepton  Priory  early  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
III. ;  t  and  Nicholas  Findern  was  one  of  the  eye-witnesses  of  a 
remarkable  meteor  that  startled  the  good  people  of  Alvaston,  on 
September  18th,  1253,  and  which  was  thought  of  sufficient  impor- 
tance to  be  chronicled  in  the  annals  of  Burton  Abbey. J  Isabella 
seems  to  have  been  the  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Findern, 
who  were  living  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.  Her  husband  was 
Henry  Bothe,  of  Arleston,  in  the  adjacent  parish  of  Barrow-on- 
Trent,  and  their  daughter,  Alice,  was  the  first  wife  of  Sir  Nicholas 
Fitzherbert,  of  Norbury.§  Henry  Bothe  died  in  1446.|| 

Another  interesting  relic  of  the  Norman  church  was  the  tym- 
panum over  the  south  doorway  (not  the  north  as  stated  in  the 
Reliquary).  It  is  carved  in  a  chequered  pattern,  and  has  a  cross 
formee  in  the  centre.  On  each  side  is  a  quaintly-shaped  human 
figure.  This  stone  is  built  into  the  interior  wall  of  the  north 
aisle  of  the  new  church. 

The  font  is  of  octagon  shape  and  poorly  moulded.  It  bears  on 
one  face  the  year  1662,  a  date  at  which  so  many  new  fonts  were 
made  to  replace  those  destroyed  by  the  Puritans. 

The  two  bells  in  the  new  church  are  those  which  were  removed 
from  its  predecessor. 

I.  "  Thomas  Mears  founder   London,  1841." 

II.  "John  Cooke  :  John  Porter,  1704,"    and  the  initials   D.  H., 
for  Daniel  Hedderly. 

This  church   possesses,  in  a  small  chalice  and   cover,  the  oldest 

*  Harl.  MSS.  1092,  f.  76,  etc. 
t  Topographer,  vol.  ii  ,  p.  254. 
t  Cott.'MSS.,  Vesp.  B.  III.,f.  41. 
§  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  235. 

||  With  respect  to  the  Bothes,  see  the  previous  account  of  the  church  of  Barrow-on- 
Trent,  and  the  subsequent  one  of  the  church  of  Sawley. 


FINDERN.  315 

Church  Plate,  with  which  we  are  acquainted,  in  the  county.  The 
chalice  is  beautifully  engraved  with  arabesque  work.  The  paten 
fits  the  top  of  the  chalice  as  a  cover,  but  has  also  a  light  stand 
of  its  own.  The  hall-mark  shows  it  to  be  of  the  year  1564-5, 
ten  years  older  than  the  Elizabethan  chalice  of  Derwent  chapel. 

The  earliest  register  book  begins  in  1558,  and  euds  in  1779. 
It  has  been  carefully  bound  by  the  present  vicar,  but  the  ink  is 
much  faded,  and  in  many  places  it  is  wholly  illegible.  Down  to 
1600,  it  is  a  copy  of  an  older  book.  This  book  was  for  some 
time  missing,  but  the  conscience  of  the  appropriator  caused  him 
recently  to  return  it  anonymously  by  Her  Majesty's  mails. 


316  DERBYSHIRE    CHUiiCIIES. 


of  |iotlocfc. 


|HE  manor  of  Potlock,  within  the  parish  of  Mickleover,  also 
possessed  a  chapel  in  early  times,  and  we  have  already 
recorded  its  gift  by  William  the  Conqueror  to  the  abbey 
of  Burton.  This  manor  was  divided  into  two  parts  by  the  River 
Trent,  that  on  the  further  side,  which  was  the  larger  mediety, 
pertaining  to  Eepton  Priory,  and  that  on  the  north  side  being  held 
by  the  Finderns ;  but  both  portions  did  service  to  the  abbot  of 
Burton.  'When  the  former  was  granted  to  Eepton  Priory  in  1373, 
the  jury  found  that  it  was  held  of  Burton  Abbey  on  an  annual 
service  of  thirty-nine  shillings.* 

The  chapel,  which  was  dedicated  to  S.  Leonard,  stood  close  to 
the  old  mansion  house  of  the  Finderns,  whose  principal  seat  was, 
from  the  fourteenth  century  downwards,  at  Potlock,  and  not  at 
Findern  itself,  as  has  usually  been  supposed.  This  old  hall  was 
pulled  down  about  1805,  but  nothing  more  than  the  foundations 
of  the  chapel  had  been  then  apparent  within  the  memory  of  man. 

The  field  adjacent  to  the  Trent,  where  the  chapel  used  to  be, 
is  still  called  "  Chapel  Close." 

In  1327,  John  de  Touke  endowed  a  chaplain  with  one  messuage, 
fourteen  acres  of  arable  land,  and  46s.  8d.  out  of  the  manor  of 
Potlock,  to  celebrate  daily  Mass  within  the  chapel  of  S.  Leonard, 
for  the  souls  of  Eobert  de  Touke  and  Ermetrude  his  wife,  and  for 
the  souls  of  all  his  ancestors,  and  of  all  the  faithful  departed. 
For  license  from  the  king  for  this  alienation  of  property,  the 
founder  of  this  chantry  had  to  pay  £5.t  John  de  Touke  at  that 

*  Inq.  ad  quod  dammnn,  46  Edw.  III.,  2nd  part,  No.  45.     Both  this  and  the  next 
quoted  inquisition  are  wrongly  classified  at  the  Record  Office  under  Inq.  post  Mort. 
t  Inq.  ad  quod  damnum,  1  Edw.  Ill  ,  2nd  part,  No.  101. 


POTLOCK.  317 

time  held  the  northern  mediety  of  the  manor  of  Potlock  of  the 
abbot  of  Burton,  hy  the  annual  service  of  ten  shillings. 

It  had  been  thus  held  by  the  Toukes  for  several  generations, 
but  John  de  Touke  was  a  priest,  and  therefore  died  issueless.  On 
his  death  the  manor  was  held  by  the  Finderns.  In  the  year  1413, 
we  find  an  entry  in  the  episcopal  registers  of  the  institution  of 
William  Jon  son  to  this  chantry,  on  the  presentation  of  John 
Findern.  This  institution  was  made  on  November  9th,  but,  on 
December  12th  of  the  same  year,  William  Jonson  was  instituted 
to  the  rectory  of  Brailsford,  and  Henry  Fox,  who  had  been 
rector  of  Brailsford,  was  admitted  to  this  chantry.* 

We  can  learn  nothing  respecting  the  chapel  in  post-Reformation 
days.  It  seems  to  have  been  one  of  those  very  numerous  chapels 
that  were  then  desecrated.  The  chantry  lands  were  probably  con- 
fiscated before  the  time  of  Edward  VI.,  as  there  is  no  mention  of 
them  in  the  Chantry  Eoll. 

*  Lichfield  Registers,  vol.  vii.,  f.  47. 


[HE  earliest  historical  mention  of  Morley  is  in  Wulfric 
Spott's  endowment  charter  of  the  Abbey  of  Burton,  in 
the  year  1002.  A  small  portion  of  the  manor  was  left 
by  him  to  that  Abbey.*  Morley  formed  part  of  the  vast  estates  of 
Henry  de  Ferrers  when  the  Domesday  Survey  was  compiled.  In 
the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  we  find  that  the  manors  of  Morley, 
Smalley,  and  Kydsley,  inter  alia,  were  held  in  free  alms  of  Hugh, 
Earl  of  Chester,  by  the  Abbot  of  Chester ;  t  and  there  seems  but 
little  doubt  that  they  were  held  by  the  abbey  in  the  previous 
century. 

Though  there  is  no  mention  of  a  church  at  Morley  in  the 
Domesday  Book,  it  seems  probable,  from  circumstances  that  will 
be  afterwards  mentioned,  that  there  was  one  here  at  that  date,  and 
that  this  is  one  of  those  instances  wherein  the  return  of  a  church, 
which  the  commissioners  were  in  no  case  bound  to  enter,  was 
omitted.  Edmund  de  Morley,  soon  after  the  Conquest,  is  said  to 
have  given  the  advowson  of  Morley  church  to  his  second  son, 
Walter  de  Morley  ;  and  from  one  of  the  old  chartularies  of  the 
Abbey  of  Chester,  it  appears  that  the  advowson  was  conferred 
upon  that  monastery  by  Eobert,  son  of  Walter  de  Morley,  when 
Robert  de  Hastings  was  abbot.  ^  Robert  de  Hastings  was 
elected  abbot  m  1186,  and  deposed  in  1194.  §  The  same 
chartulary  also  mentions  a  gift  of  lands  at  Morley  from 
William  de  Verdon ;  |j  that  Richard  de  Morley,  son  of  Henry  de 

*  Thorpe's  Diplomatarium  Anglicum  jffivi  Saxonici,  p.  547.  Lysons  is  wrong  in 
saying  that  the  manor  of  Morley  was  given  to  Burton,  as  it  was  merely  the  heriot- 
land  that  was  thus  bequeathed.  This  term  has  been  already  explained,  Churches  of 
Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  p.  53. 

f  Testa  de  Nevill ;  Dodsworth's  Collections. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  1,965,  f.  13 ;  Ajid.  MSS.,  6,675,  f,  36b. 

§  Dugdale's  Monasticon  (new  edit.),  vol.  ii.,  p.  376. 

I  William  de  Verdon,  iii  the  last  half  of  the  twelfth  century,  married  Alice,  daughter 
of  Kobert  de  Morley. 
22 


322  DEKBYSHIRE   CHURCHES. 

Morley,  gave  to  the  abbey  full  license  to  dig  and  take  away  marl 
from  bis  marl  pits  at  Morley,  Smalley,  and  in  Morley  Park,  the 
final  agreement  respecting  these  pits  being  dated  1280 ;  and  that 
Sibilla,  relict  of  William  Wilde,  gave  to  the  abbey  her  fourth  part 
of  the  manor  of  Smalley.*  The  canons  held,  too,  the  important 
right  of  free  warren  throughout  the  parish,  by  grant  from 
Edward  I.,t  so  that  they  were  quite  the  lords  paramount  of 
the  district,  the  De  Morleys  of  later  times,  and  the  Stathums 
holding  under  them. 

The  church  of  Morley  was  valued,  at  the  time  of  Pope  Nicholas' 
Taxation  Eoll,  1291,  at  the  yearly  sum  of  £13  6s.  8d.  ;  and  it  was 
declared  to  be  of  precisely  the  same  clear  annual  value  in  the 
Valor  Ecclesiasticus  of  Henry  VIII. 

On  the  dissolution  of  the  Abbey  of  S.  Werburgh's,  Chester,  the 
manors  of  Morley  and  Smalley,  together  with  the  advowson  of 
Morley  rectory,  were  conferred  upon  Sir  William  Paget.  Subse- 
quently, on  the  forfeiture  of  the  Paget  estates,  these  manorial 
rights  and  the  advowson  reverted  to  the  crown,  and  were  granted 
by  James  L,  in  1612,  to  Anthony  Koper  and  his  wife  Maria. J 
From  thence  the  advowson  passed  to  the  Sacheverells,  who  had 
inherited  the  property  of  the  Stathums ;  and  on  the  manor  being 
divided  into  moieties,  the  patronage  of  the  rectory  was  considered 
to  rest  jointly  in  the  different  lords,  and  not  turn  by  turn,  as  was 
usually  the  case  with  the  holders  of  manorial  moieties. 

The  Church  Goods  Commissioners,  temp.  Edward  VI.,  drew  up 
the  following  inventory  of  the  possessions  of  Morley  church  : — 

"  Morley,  Oct.  3.     Sir  Christ.  North  parson  &  curate. 

"j  chalys  of  sylver  with  a  paten  parcel  gylt — a  canopye  with  a  pyx  of  laten — 
j  holy  water  ffatt  of  brasse— iij  bells  in  ye  steple  — j  lytle  hand  bell — j  sacrvng  bell 
in  ye  chaunsell— ij  cruetts  of  puter— ij  copys  of  sylke,  ye  j  of  blew,  y*  other 
chaungable— ij  vestments  y6  one  blew  damaske,  ye  other  grene  saten  of  Brugs 
with  albes  and  other  necessaryes — j  and  ij  olde  vestments  without  albes— iij  cor- 
poraxes  of  cloth  with  cases  to  them— iij  aulter  clothes— iiij  towells  of  clothe— 
j  lytle  pyllow  of  cloth  of  gold — j  surplesse  for  y6  pryest  &  j  rochet  for  ye  clarke 
&  a  shete  y*  hanged  afor  ye  Eode— j  lytle  bell  taken  off  ye  chauncell  in  value  ijd— 
a  pax  of  wood  and  glasse." 

The  Parliamentary  Survey  of  Livings,  1650,  at  Lambeth  Library, 
thus  speaks  of  this  parish  : — 

"Morley  is  a  parsonage  really  worth  foure  score  and  five  pounds  per  annum 
and  hath  a  chappell  att  Smawley  apperteyning  a  myle  distant.  Mr  John  Harpur 
Incumbent  a  man  able  and  honest." 

»  Harl.  MSS.,  1,965,  ff.  12,  13. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  2,062  (which  is  another  Chester  Abbey  Chartulary)  f.  14. 

t  Patent  Rolls,  10  James  I.,  pt.  23,  No.  13. 


MORLEY.  323 

The  following  list  of  rectors  is  chiefly  compiled  from  the  Lichfield 
Episcopal  Registers,  and  from  the  returns  of  the  First  Fruits  Office. 
We  have  not  reiterated  the  fact  of  the  Abbot  of  Chester  being 
patron  at  each  institution,  but  it  should  be  understood  that  that 
was  always  the  case  up  to  the  time  of  its  dissolution,  unless  other- 
wise mentioned. 

1334.  Robert  de  Heyford;  patron,  Abbey  of  S.  Werburgh,  Chester.  A  Commis- 
sion issued  to  ascertain  in  whom  the  patronage  was  vested,  which  resulted 
in  favour  of  the  Abbey  of  Chester. 

1349.  William  dictus  Lombe  de  Salop ;  patron,  Abbot  of  Chester.    On  the  death 

of  E.  de  H. 

1350.  Roger   de    Saperton,  rector   of  Fenny  Compton,  exchanged   benefices  with 
W.  L.,  rector  of  Morley. 

1361.  John  de  Snaythe,  LL.D.    A  year's  dispensation  from  residence  for  study. 

1390.  William  Couper. 

1393.  John  de  Scheynton.     On  the  resignation  of  W.  C. 
.  Robert  Balstone.    On  the  resignation  of  J.  de  S. 

1402.  Thomas  Derby.     On  the  resignation  of  E.  B. 

....  Edmund  Drury. 

1430.  William  Weathurby,  vicar  of  Marston,  exchanged  benefices  with  E.  D., 
rector  of  Morley. 

1435.  William  Thrumpton,  rector  of  Heanor,  exchanged  benefices  with  W.  W., 
rector  of  Morley. 

1438.  John  Fletcher.     On  the  resignation  of  W.  T. 

1467.  Thomas  Brodhurst;  patron,  Sir  Thomas  Stathum,  for  this  turn,  by  leave  of 
the  Abbot  of  Chester.  On  the  death  of  J.  F. 

1471.  William  Tykhull;  patron,  Abbot  of  Chester.      On  the  death  of  T.  B. 

1504.  Milo  Hudleston;  patron,  Peter  Leigh.    On  the  death  of  W.  T. 

1508.  Bartholomew  Tatton ;  patron,  Abbot  of  Chester. 

1536.  Christopher  North ;  patron,  Thomas  Byrmyngham,  citizen  of  Lichfield,  for 
this  turn,  by  leave  of  the  Abbot  of  Chester.  On  the  death  of  B.  T.  "  Sr 
Xfor  North,  clarke,  was  buried  xx  of  Februerie,  1561." — Parish  Registers. 
He  was  probably  ejected  on  the  accession  of  Mary. 

1553.  John  Stanton;  patron,  William  Paget. 

1559.  William  BUI;  patron,  William  Paget.    On  the  death  of  J.  S. 

(1591).  James  Walker.    Buried  April  22nd,  1603.    Parish  Registers. 

1603.  William  Bennet.  "  Memd  that  William  Bennett  Eector  of  Morley  departed 
this  life  about  five  of  the  clocke  in  the  morning  the  21st  day  of  October, 
And  was  buried  by  Mr  Hows  Eector  of  Drecott  in  the  county  of  Stafford 
the  23d  day  of  Octob1  Anno  Domini  1647,  And  he  was  parson  of  Morley  44 
yeares  three  moneths  and  odd  dayes.  (Signed)  William  Bennett  Minister 
of  Wilne  and  Breaston."  Parish  Registers. 

1647.  John  Harpur.  On  the  death  of  W.  B.  He  was  episcopally  instituted  in 
1662,  on  the  presentation  of  Henry  Sacheverell. 

1690.  William  Wilson;  patron,  Francis  Pierpoint.  On  the  death  of  J.  H.  Some- 
time Archdeacon  of  Coventry. 

1741.  Richard  Wilmot;  patrons,  Jane  Sacheverell  and  others.  On  the  death  of 
W.  W.  He  was  also  canon  of  Windsor,  and  vicar  of  Mickleover. 

1772.  Joseph  Twemlow;  patrons,  Joyce  Osborne,  spinster,  Hugh  Bateman,  junr., 
Edward  Sacheverell  Pole,  John  Newton,  Isaac  Liptrot,  clerk,  and  Dorothy 
Wilmot,  widow,  as  lords  of  the  manor  of  Morley.  On  the  death  of  E.  W. 

1777.  Robert  Wilmot;  patrons,  lords  of  the  manor  of  Morley. 


324  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

1804.  Edward  Willes ;  patrons,  Hugh  Bateman  and  Edward  Sacheverell  Sitwell. 
On  the  death  of  R.  W. 

1807.  William  Sitwell;  patrons,  Edward  Sacheverell  Sitwell,  Sir  Eobert  Wilmot, 
Bart.,  and  Richard  Bateman.  On  the  resignation  of  E.  W. 

1844.  Samuel  Fox ;  patron,  John  Wood  Andrews,  of  Long  Bennington,  Lincoln- 
shire. On  the  death  of  W.  S. 

1871.  Arthur  Alfred  Wilmot.    On  the  death  of  S.  F. 

1876.  Henry  Holden  Bradshaw;  patrons,  John  George  Crompton  and  Meynell 
Horton  Miller  Mundy,  of  Bath,  as  trustees  of  Robert  Sacheverell  Sitwell. 
On  the  death  of  A.  A.  W. 

The  Church,  which  is  dedicated  to  S.  Matthew,  consists  of  nave, 
north  and  south  aisles,  which  are  continued  eastwards  as  chancel 
chapels,  chancel,  south  porch,  and  tower,  surmounted  by  a  spire,  at 
the  west  end.  Mr.  Rawlins'  measurements,  taken  in  the  year 
1827,  give  the  following  as  the  dimensions  of  the  area : — nave 
39  ft.  2  in.  by  15  ft.  7  in.  ;  north  aisle  and  chapel  54  ft.  3  in. 
by  18  ft.  6  in.;  south  aisle  and  chapel  54  ft.  3  hi.  by  9  ft.  9  in.; 
and  chancel  28  ft.  3  in.  by  16  ft.  9  in. 

When  the  church  was  restored  in  1850,  it  was  found  that  the 
Norman  arcades  of  the  nave,  consisting  of  two  semicircular  arches 
on  each  side,  had  been  formed  by  cutting  through  the  original 
nave  walls,  which  were  of  an  earlier  date.*  This  masonry  must 
have  been  of  Saxon  or  very  early  Norman  times,  as  the  present 
arcades  are  of  the  time  of  Stephen,  or  the  beginning  of  the  reign 
of  Henry  II. 

Departing  from  our  usual  plan  in  these  church  sketches,  we 
shall  interweave  the  account  of  the  architecture  of  the  church  with 
that  of  some  of  the  older  monuments,  inasmuch  as  they  throw 
special  light  on  the  dates  of  different  parts  of  the  fabric.  The 
early  pedigree  of  the  family  who  took  their  name  from  the  manor 
— the  DC  Morleys — is  vague  and  confused.  The  fact  that  Richard 
de  Morley,  mentioned  in  the  Chester  chartulary  already  quoted, 
was  the  son  of  Henry  de  Morley,  has  not  been  hitherto  known. t 
He  married  Joan,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  John  De  la  Launde, 
and  had  issue  an  only  daughter,  Lucy,  who  became  the  wife  of 

*  History  and  Antiquities  of  Morley  Church,  p.  2.  We  desire  to  refer  the  reader 
to  this  interesting  posthumous  work  of  the  Rev.  S.  Fox,  the  late  rector ;  it  is  profusely 
illustrated  with  drawings  by  Mr.  Bailey. 

f  The  pedigree  at  the  end  of  Fox's  Morley  is  highly  conjectural;  it  makes  Richard 
the  son  of  Hugo  de  Morley,  and  grandson  of  another  Hugo,  both  of  which  generations 
are  distinct  interpolations.  The  most  correct  seems  to  be  that  given  in  the  Warwick- 
shire Visitation,  Harl.  MSS. ,  1,167.  There  is  an  elaborate  pedigree  of  Peter  le  Neve's, 
relative  to  the  early  lords  of  Morley,  given  in  Add.  MSS.,  6,675,  f.  366b,but  we  have 
proved  it  to  be  so  thoroughly  wrong  in  one  or  two  particulars,  that  we  cannot  venture 
to  quote  it  as  any  authority.  But  it  would  be  worth  careful  consideration  and  analysis 
if  ever  the  history  of  the  manor  is  fully  written. 


MORLEY.  325 

Hugh  Risley.  Hugh  aud  Lucy  Bisley  had  also  an  only  daughter 
and  heiress,  Lucy,  who  was  married  to  William  (?  Roger)  Massey.* 
The  issue  of  this  match  was  also  an  only  daughter  and  heiress, 
Goditha,  who  brought  Morley  and  other  property  to  her  husband, 
Ralph  Stathum.t 

A  Visitation  of  this  church  made  August  6th,  1662,  by  Dugdale 
and  Ashmole.J  describes  in  "  the  great  Est  window  in  y*  Chan- 
cell,"  the  words  "Hugo  de  Morley"  and  also  "Johannes 

Persona,  de  Mo ,"  in  Lombardic  capitals.  Hugo  de  Risley, 

on  bis  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  De  Morley,  frequently  assumed 
the  name  of  his  wife,  being  in  her  right  Lord  of  Morley  under 
the  abbey  of  Chester.  The  inscription  in  the  window  shows  that 
the  glass,  and,  in  all  probability,  the  fabric  of  the  chancel,  were 
put  up  by  him,  or  to  his  memory,  assisted  by  the  rector,  John 

,  whose  name  cannot  be  supplied,  as  our  list  of  rectors 

does  not  begin  till  after  his  time.  The  three-light  pointed  window 
of  the  chancel  (now  filled  with  modern  stained  glass  as  a  Sitwell 
memorial),  the  piscina,  and  other  details,  but  more  especially  the 
beautiful  little  south  window  of  two-lights — which  is  now  unglazed 
and  looks  into  the  chapel  of  the  extended  south  aisle — are  all  of 
that  style  of  the  Decorated  period  that  prevailed  about  the  end  of 
the  reign  of  Edward  I.  and  the  beginning  of  that  of  Edward  II. 
Up  to  the  time  of  this  extension  and  rebuilding  of  the  chancel, 
the  fabric  of  the  church  would  seem  to  have  remained  untouched, 
as  the  Norman  style  left  it,  with  nave,  shallow  side-aisles,  and 
small  chancel 

In  the  same  window  then  remained  four  coats  of  arms : — (1) 
az.,  a  lion  rampant,  arg.,  Estafcren,  an  Irish  family  whose  heiress 
De  la  Launde  had  married;  (2)  or,  a  cinquefoil,  yu.,  a  bearing 
sometimes  used  by  a  branch  of  the  Vernon  family;  (3)  barry  of 
six,  ary.  and  az.,  the  well-known  coat  of  Grey ;  and  (4)  or,  two 
lions  passant,  arg.,  a  coat  borne  by  Somery  and  two  or  three 
other  families. 

*  There  is  some  doubt  whether  there  were  really  these  two  Lucys,  and  whether 
William  (or  Roger)  Massey  was  not  the  second  husband  of  Lucy,  the  relict  of  Hugh 
Risley.  We  have  not  been  able  as  yet  to  satisfactorily  clear  up  this  and  one  or  two 
other  doubtful  points  in  the  pedigree,  but  we  give  that  in  the  text  which  we  believe 
to  be  the  most  accurate. 

f  Letters  Patent,  of  1378,  granting  free  warren  to  Ralph  and  Goditha  Stathum  over 
their  lands  at  Caldelowe  and  Snelston,  describe-  Goditha  as  consanguine  et  hered' 
Joins  de  la  Launde. — Pat.  Rot.,  51  Edw.  III.,  memb.  7.  In  the  reign  of  Richard  II., 
the  Lady  Goditha  obtained  a  grant  of  free  warren  in  the  townships  of  Morley,  Smalley, 
and  Kydsley,  which  had  previously  belonged  to  the  abbey  of  Chester. — Charter  Roll, 
21-3  Ric.  II.,  No.  11. 

I  Ashm.  MSS.,  854,  Bodleian;  Dugdale's  Derbyshire  Visitation,  1662-4,  Coll.  of 
Arms. 


326  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  north  aisle  is  a  brass  plate  thns 
inscribed  : — 

"  Orate  p'aia  Radulphi  de  Stathum,  quonda  dni  de  Morley  qui  istam  capellam 
fieri  fecit,  &  obiit  xiij°  die  Junii  A"  dni  Mill0  ccc°  lxxx°  et  p'aia  Godythe  uxis 
sue  nup'  dne  de  Morley  pdict'  que  psentem  Eccliam  cum  caropanili  de_novo 
construxit  que  obiit  xvj°  die  Maii  Anno  dni  millo  cccc°  xviij0  quar'  aiar5  & 
p'  eisdem  exorantibus  ppiciet'  deus  arne." 

Ralph  Stathum  was  a  Knight  of  the  Shire  for  Derbyshire, 
2  Richard  II.  He  was  of  the  ancient  family  of  Stathum,  of 
Stathum,  a  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Limme,  Cheshire.  The  arms 
used  by  Stathum  were  really  those  of  the  family  of  Limme  or 
Lymme,  and  it  is  therefore  probable  that  there  was  an  early 
alliance  with  an  heiress  of  one  branch  of  that  family.  But  this 
early  genealogy  is  obscure.* 

It  cannot  be  precisely  determined  which  was  the  chapel  or  aisle 
built  by  Ralph  Stathum,  owing  to  the  frequent  removals  of  this 
and  other  of  the  Morley  brasses.  Ashmole,  1662,  describes  this 
plate  as  being  "  on  a  Graveston  in  the  North  Isle,"  so  that  in 
default  of  earlier  information,  it  must  be  taken  that  he  took  down 
the  Norman  north  aisle  and  rebuilt  it.  After  his  death  in  1380, 
the  work  was  continued  by  his  widow  Goditha,  who  rebuilt  the 
tower  and  the  south  aisle,  and  probably  re-roofed  and  otherwise 
altered  the  nave,  though  retaining  the  old  Norman  arcades. 

From  another  brass  plate  we  learn  two  additional  facts,  viz., 
that  the  work  was  completed  in  1403,  and  that  Richard  Stathum, 
son  of  Ralph  and  Goditha,  who  died  in  1891,  was  associated  with 
Goditha  in  her  work.  The  letters  of  this  inscription  are  in  relief, 
and  a  small  portion  has  been  broken  off  on  the  left  side  : — 

"  Orate  p'  ambus  Godithe  de  _Stathum  dne  d'  Morley  .  .  .  Eica^di  filii  sui  qui 
capanile  istud  &  eccliam  fieri  fecert  ....  quibus  tenent'  Anno  dni  Millmo  cccc° 
tercio." 

Of  this  plate,  Mr.  Fox  remarks  that  it  "  was  originally  over  the 
south  door,  as  a  matrix  corresponding  with  it  still  remains."  Ash- 
mole,  1662,  describes  it  as  '•  lying  neere  the  hault  pace  ascending 
to  the  Altar." 

The  style  of  architecture  of  the  tower,  and  of  that  which 
remains  of  the  older  work  of  the  aisles,  is  precisely  what  would 
have  been  expected  from  the  dates  on  these  brasses,  viz.,  that 
which  prevailed  about  the  close  of  the  Decorated  and  beginning  of 
the  Perpendicular  period.  The  side  aisles  then  terminated  in  a 

*  Ormerod's  Cheshire,  vol.  i.,  p.  438. 


MOKLEY.  327 

line  with  the  commencement  of  the  chancel.      The  sites  of  the  old 
side  altars  are  shown  by  piscina  niches,  with  crocketted  hood-moulds 
over  them.       The    one   in  the    north    aisle  is  of  rather  earlier  cha- 
racter than  its  fellow,  which  is  an  additional  proof  that  the  chapel 
of  Ealph    Stathum    was    there  constructed ;    and   this   is  the   more 
likely,  as    it    was    the    side  of   the  church    on    which   their   manor 
house  stood.     The  pier  that  supports  the  north  side  of  the  chancel 
arch  was    pierced,  at    this    time,  so    as    to    form    a    hagioscope,   by 
which  the    high    altar  could  be  seen  by  any  one  serving  the  north 
altar.       This    hagioscope    is   noteworthy   for   the    elegant   finish    of 
the    aperture    in   the    north    aisle,    the    angle    of    the    pier    being 
bevilled  out  so  as  to   present  a  flat    surface   in  which  the  squint  is 
cut,  as  though  it  were  a  narrow  lancet  light,  with  a  tref oiled  head- 
This  north  aisle  was  enlarged  and  rebuilt  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
as  we    shall    presently  see,  but    two  of    the  windows  of   the  former 
aisle,  now    at   its    west    end,    were    re-used.      The   windows   of  the 
south    aisle   are    square-headed,    with    square    labels.      Within    the 
porch   is    a    Decorated   doorway  with   plain    mouldings    and  shafts. 
The    porch,  which,  as   well    as  other  parts  of   the  church,  is   most 
picturesquely  mantled  in  creepers,  is   also  Decorated  work,  but  the 
shafts  and  other  details  of   the  entrance  seem  older  than  the  door- 
way  covered    by  the    porch,    and   this '  lends   confirmation   to   the 
tradition  that    it    was    brought  from    Dale  Abbey  and   here  set  up. 
The  tower   is  of   incipient   Perpendicular  character  ;  *    on   the  west 
side    is    a   plain    doorway,    over    which    is    a    square-headed    single 
window ;    the  belfry  windows   are  pointed    and  of  two   lights  ;    the 
parapets  embattled,  and  at   their  south-west   angle   rises  the  higher 
part    pertaining    to    the    stair-turret.      The   octagonal   spire  is  lofty 
and  tapering,  but  it  is  not  ribbed  or  pierced  with  lights. 

Although  the  manor  house  so  closely  adjoined  the  church,  we 
find  that  it  possessed  a  private  chapel  or  oratory,  and  within  two 
years  of  the  completion  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  church,  namely  in 
1405,  Goditha,  the  relict  of  Ealph  de  Stathum,  obtained  the 
episcopal  license  for  having  Mass  celebrated  therein  for  the  souls 
of  her  husband  and  others  of  the  family,  t 

Thomas  Stathum,  the  only  surviving  son  of  Ealph  and  Goditha,J 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Eobert  Lumley.  There  is  no  brass 

*  We  borrow  this  phrase  and  some  other  descriptions  from  the  notes  of  Sir  Stephen 
Glynn,  who  visited  this  church  circa  1840. 

•f  Lichfield  Episcopal  Registers,  vol.  vii.,  f.  157. 

£  They  had  six  other  sons,  Ealph,  Richard,  William.  Nicholas,  Piere,  and  Robert, 
all  of  whom  died  without  issue  ;  also  three  daughters — Goditha,  married  to  Sir  John 
Poulteney ;  Margaret,  to  Walter  Bohuu,  of  Bucks  ;  and  Agnes,  to  Thomas  Hurt. 


328  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

to  his  memory,  and  it  lias  hitherto  been  supposed  that  the  church 
lacked  any  memorial  of  him.  But  we  have  little  douht  that  we 
have  found  one  in  a  mutilated  stone  slab,  which  was  removed,  in 
1850,  from  under  the  seats  on  the  north  side  of  the  nave,  and 
now  forms  part  of  the  pavement  under  the  tower,  close  to  the 
north  wall.  The  slab  has  been  cut  in  two  longitudinally,  and 
only  one  half  remains.  After  considerable  difficulty,  we  were 
able  to  decipher  thus  much  of  the  black  letter  marginal  inscrip- 
tion : — " de  Stathum  quond* — cuj  ..." 

The  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Stathum,  was  John,  who  married 
Cecily  Cornwall.  His  wife  is  described  in  the  Warwickshire  Visi- 
tation as  "hares  Baroness  de  Burford."  There  are  no  less  than 
three  brasses  commemorative  of  this  benefactor  of  the  church, 

The  first  is  a  simple  plate,  thus  inscribed  : — 

"  Orate  p'  aia  Johis  Stathum  Armigeri,  qu°  dm  dm  isti'  ville  qui  bene  &  nota- 
bilit^  hanc  eccle  egit  qui  obiit  vij°  die  Novembris  Anno  dni  Millmo  ccccliij0.  Et 
p'_aia  Cecilie  uxoris  ejus  que  obiit  xxv°  die  Aprilis  A°  dni  M°  cccc°  xliiij0  qr° 
aiabus  ppiciet'  de'." 

The  second  is  an  elaborate  brass,  originally  of  several  plates  let 
into  a  slab  of  Purbeck  marble,  which  was  evidently  placed  over 
the  bodies  of  John  Stathum  and  his  wife,  and  which  comprises  the 
earliest  portraiture  in  the  church.  John  Stathum  is  represented 
kneeling  on  his  helmet,  bare-headed,  with  the  hair  cropped  close 
above  the  ears,*  hands  uncovered  and  conjoined  in  prayer,  the 
armoured  skirt  divided  into  a  number  of  small  plates,  and  with 
the  other  usual  characteristics  of  the  armour  of  the  middle  of  the 
15th  century.  His  wife  kneels  opposite  to  him,  clad  in  a  loose 
gown,  falling  in  bold  folds,  and  a  slightly  "horned"  bead-dress,  with 
pendent  veil.  From  each  of  their  mouths  is  a  label  bearing : 

"  See  Xpofore  ora  pro  nobis — " 

and  between  the  labels  is  a  figure  of  S.  Christopher  bearing  the 
infant  Jesus,  who  holds  in  His  left  hand  the  orls  mundi.  There 
were  originally  four  shields  of  arms  pertaining  to  this  brass,  but 
only  one  was  left  in  1662,  viz.,  Stathum  and  Morley  quarterly. 
On  a  plate  below  the  figures  is  this  inscription : — 

"  Here  lieth  John  Stathum  Squyer  Bomtyme  lorde  of  this  towne  and  Cecily  his 
Wyfe.  Which  gat  to  yis  Churche  iij  belles  &  ordyned  iijs  iiijd  yerely  for  brede 
to  be  done  in  almes  amonge  pore  folk  of  y«  prsch  I  y>  day  of  ye  obit  of  dame 
Godith  sometyme  lady  of  y8  towne.  the  said  John  dyed  the  vj  day  of  Novembre 
v«  yere  of  our  lord  M  cccc  liiij.  and  the  said  Cecily  died  the  xxv  day  of  April 
the  yere  of  our  lord  M  cccc  xliiij.  of  whos  Sowles  God  have  Mercy  Amen." 

*  Monuments  having  this  unsightly  characteristic  may  always  be  assigned  to  circa 
445.     In  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii.,  two  close-cropped  effigies  were  described 
at  the  churches  of  Kedlestou  and  Kadboume. 


MORLEY.  329 

The  third  memorial  of  John  Stathum  is  of  special  interest,  and 
takes  the  form  of  a  requiem  plate,  of  most  exceptional  if  not 
unique  character,  enjoining  certain  specific  "  benefactory  prayers." 
It  is  most  appropriately  fixed  against  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel, 
immediately  over  the  piscina,  so  that  the  priest  could  not  fail, 
whenever  he  approached  the  piscina  for  the  ahlutions,  or  to 
remove  the  cruets  from  the  credence  shelf  within  the  niche,  to  be 
reminded  of  the  obligations  that  were  due  from  him  to  the 
memory  of  the  pious  family  thereon  emimerated.  The  following 
is  the  inscription  : — 

ffirr  i£0  sofoles  0f  $afe  60bgt^f  %0ms  6Ii§ab,el|j  ®.eriH  SBO  Qalgn  &  of 
t^jgr  ^umssom  &  f0r  all  rristea  $0tolei  gegfuuMs  &r :  pater  nosier  &t : 
glue  mark:  tt  m  K0s :  nqt  et'nam  &c :  §nc  mufti  0rac0m :  to*  gis 
0ra0  ^ttdina  0tte  &ti  ^0^«  £slal|n  0r0gB0  gis  t0  fa  sai0  &  more 
toritm  in;  0tl;er  bium  boMa.* 

The  good  and  notable  works  done  by  the  pious  John  Stathumt 
to  the  fabric  of  the  church,  in  addition  to  his  bequests  to  the 
poor,  were  no  doubt  the  prolonging  of  the  south  and  north  aisles, 
and  piercing  the  chancel  walls  with  arches  communicating  there- 
with ;  there  is  a  piscina  at  the  end  of  the  south  aisle,  which 
is  clearly  of  about  that  date  ;  the  corresponding  one  in  the  other 
aisle  would  be  removed  when  the  north  aisle  was  rebuilt  in  the 
next  century.  Probably  John  Stathum  also  put  a  new  roof  on 
the  nave,  of  Perpendicular  pitch,  raising  the  walls  over  the 
arcades,  and  inserting  clerestory  windows.  At  all  events  that 
work  was  done  in  the  fifteenth  century,  though  the  tracery  of 
these  windows  was  removed  and  the  mullions  renewed  at  a 
later  date. 

To    him,     too,     as    mentioned     on    the     second    memorial,    the 

*  The  De  Profundis  (Ps.  cxxx.)  forms  part  of  the  usual  Office  of  the  Dead.      The 
Pater  Noster  and  A ve  Maria  need  no  explanation.      The  ne  nos  is  puzzling;  perhaps 
it  is  intended  to  stand  for  the  last  clause  but  one  of  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and  may 
imply  certain  parts  of  the   service  that  followed  on  the  recitation  of  the  two  last 
clauses,  when  the  first  part  had  been  said  in  secreto.      Requiem  eternam  stands  for 
the  following  refrain,  that  is  used  after  every  psalm  and  canticle  in  the  office : — 
"  Eternal  rest :  grant  unto  them,  O  Lord. 
And  light  perpetual :  shine  upon  them." 

Domine  exaudi  orationem  refers  to  the  antiphon,  "Hear,  Lord,  my  prayer:  unto  Thee 
shall  all  flesh  come,"  and  probably  also  implies  the  psalm  that  follows  it,  usually  the 
Ixv.  The  orison  Inclina  domine,  refers  to  the  beautiful  and  simple  collect  for  the 
departed  in  our  Book  of  Sarum,  which  may  be  thus  Englished : — "  Incline  Thine  ear, 
O  Lord,  to  our  prayers,  who  humbly  entreat  Thy  mercy :  that  Thou  wouldest  grant  to 
Thy  servant  N.,  whom  Thou  hast  called  from  this  world,  a  place  in  the  land  of  peace 
and  light,  and  wouldest  call  him  to  the  companionship  of  Thy  Saints ;  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen." 

f  For  his  benefactions  to  Breadsall  Priory,  see  Churches  of  Derbyshire,  vol.  iii., 
pp.  271-2. 


330  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

church  owed  three  bells,  and  it  is  peculiarly  interesting  to  find 
that  two  of  these  bells  still  swing  in  the  ancient  tower,  fulfilling 
the  pious  purpose  of  calling  the  faithful  to  the  offices  of  the 
Church.  On  the  first  of  these  bells  is  the  legend : — Ora  pro 
nobis  beate  Andrea,  in  elegant  old  English  lettering.  On  the  second 
is  : — Ihc  Nazarenus  Rex  Judeorurn,  in  highly  ornamental  Lombardic 
capitals.  The  third  bell,  which  has  been  recast  since  the  time 
of  Stathum's  gift,  bears: — God  save  His  Church,  1614,  and  the 
founder's  mark  of  George  Oldfield. 

One  of  the  patterns  on  the  encaustic  tiles  in  the  north  aisle 
bears  a  lion  rampant  ducally  crowned  (the  arms  of  Morley,  often 
assumed  by  the  Stathums  of  Morley  after  their  alliance  with 
that  heiress),  the  spaces  at  the  angles  of  the  tile,  outside  the 
margin  of  the  shield,  being  filled  in  with  three  bells.  This  is 
evidently  a  tile  specially  designed  to  commemorate  John  Sta- 
thum's munificent  gift  of  bells.  A  similar  tile  has  been  found 
within  the  church  of  the  adjacent  abbey  of  Dale,  during  the 
excavations  now  (1878-9)  in  progress,  from  which  we  may  infer 
that  the  Morley  tiles  were  undoubtedly  fired  at  the  important  kiln 
belonging  to  the  canons  of  that  establishment. 

John  Stathurn  left  a  son  and  heir,  Thomas,  who  died  in  1470, 
having  twice  married.  On  the  north  side  of  the  south  chancel 
chapel,  is  an  altar  tomb  bearing  an  elaborate  brass  to  his 
memory.  The  inscription  at  the  base  is  as  follows : — 

"  Orate  p'  aiabs  Thome  Stathum  milit'  rmper  dni  hujus  ville  q1  obiit  xxvij  die 
July  A°  dni  M°  cccc°  lxx°  Et  dne  Elizabeth  uxis  et  filie  Eobti  langley  Armigeri  ac 
Thomasine  alterius  uxoris  et  filie  Johis  Curson  quor'  aiabs  ppiciet'  deus  Amen." 

In  the  centre,  above  the  inscription,  is  Sir  Thomas  Stathum 
in  plate  armour,  with  his  sword  girt  in  front  of  his  left  thigh, 
the  head  resting  on  a  tilting  helmet  surmounted  by  the  crest  of 
a  stork  (?)  rising.  He  is  flanked  by  his  wives,  who  are  repre- 
sented as  clad  precisely  alike,  in  long  flowing  gowns,  trimmed 
round  the  neck  and  wrists  with  fur,  and  wearing  the  mitred 
head-dress.  From  the  knight's  head  proceeds  a  label — See  Cris- 
tofere  ora  p'  nobis,  surmounted  by  a  figure  of  that  saint  bearing 
the  Infant  Saviour.  From  his  first  wife,  on  his  right  hand, 
proceeds  the  label : — See  Anna  ora  pj  nobis,  leading  up  to  a  figure 
of  S.  Anne  teaching  the  Blessed  Virgin  to  read ;  and  from  his 
second  wife  proceeds  the  label — Sea  Maria  ora  pro  nobis,  and 
above  it  is  a  well  executed  little  brass  of  Our  Lady  (crowned 
and  sceptred)  and  the  Holy  Child.  In  the  upper  part  of  the 


MOKLEY.  331 

slab  is  a  shield  bearing  Morley  ((try.,  a  lion  rampant,  sab., 
crowned  or),  and  Stathum  (gu.,  a  pale  fusilly,  ary.),  quarterly ; 
also  the  matrix  of  another  one  now  missing,  which  Ashmole 
shows  to  have  been  Morley.  By  the  side  of  the  first  wife  is 
Morley  and  Stathum  quarterly,  impaling  Langley  (arg.,  a  cocka- 
trice, sab.,  membered,  gu.) ;  and  by  the  side  of  the  second  wife 
is  the  same  quartered  coat,  impaling  Curzon  (arg.,  on  a  bend, 
sab.,  three  popinjays,  or]. 

Sir  Thomas  Stathum  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Stathum,  his  son* 
by  his  first  wife,  who  married  three  times,  but  had  only  one 
daughter  who  survived  him.  His  tomb  consists  of  a  raised  slab 
of  Purbeck  marble  inlaid  with  brasses,  and  now  resting  beneath 
a  well-finished  canopied  archway  (supposed  to  have  been  brought 
from  Dale),  opening  from  the  extreme  east  end  of  the  north  wall 
of  the  south  chapel  into  the  chancel.  This  raised  or  altar  tomb 
to  Henry  Stathum,  though  here  in  1662,  is  evidently  not  in  its 
original  place.  Within  the  archway,  at  its  east  end,  is  a  small 
niche  and  a  hook  for  an  image.  The  slab  contains  the  por- 
traitures of  Henry  Stathum  and  his  three  wives,  somewhat  rudely 
inserted  in  the  stone.  Henry  is  represented  in  that  elaborate 
development  of  plate  armour  which  prevailed  in  the  last  quarter 
of  the  15th  century;  his  feet  rest  upon  a  lion,  and  his  head  upon 
a  helmet  with  mantling,  and  a  large  crest  of  a  bird  (either  a 
stork  or  spoon-bill)  rising  from  a  coronet.  To  his  left  are  two 
figures  dressed  much  like  the  wives  of  his  brother  Thomas,  and 
to  his  right  is  the  third  wife,  who  survived  him,  wearing  over 
her  gown  a  long  mantle,  fastened  across  the  shoulders  with  a 
cord,  a  veil  over  her  head-dress,  and  a  stiffly-plaited  barbe  below 
the  chin.  Above  the  heads  of  the  figures  is  this  distich — 

"Thou  art  my  brothur  or  my  Sester 
pray  for  us  A  pater  Noster." 

Below   the   figures   is   the   following  inscription: — 

"  Orate  pro  animabus  Henrici  Stathum,  nup'  dm  hujus  ville  qui  obiit  xxx°  die 
Aprilis  Anno  dni  M°  cccc°  lxxx°  Et  domine  Anne  filie  Thome  Bothe  domini  de 
barton  Elizabeth  filie  Egidii  Seynclow  Et  Margarete  filie  Johis  Stanhop  uxor'  ei 
qr  aiabs  ppiciet  de'  amen." 

Beneath  the  inscription  are  the  small  figures  of  one  son  and 
four  daughters,  all  but  one  of  whom  died  in  their  infancy. 

*  Mr.  Fox  makes  Henry  the  brother,  instead  of  the  son,  of  Sir  Thomas,  but  we  have 
quite  failed  to  find  any  authority.  He  is  his  son  according  to  the  Warwickshire 
Visitation,  and  also  according  to  Harl.  MSS.,  1,093,  f.  79;  1,537,  f.  105;  and  Egerton 
MSS.,  99b,  f.  71. 


332  DERBYSHIRE    CHURCHES. 

There  used  to  be  four  shields  on  this  tomb,  as  mentioned 
by  Ashmole — (1)  Stathum  and  Morley,  quarterly ;  (2)  Stathum 
impaling  Bothe  *  (arg.,  three  boars'  heads  erased  and  erect, 
stib.) ;  (3)  Stathum  impaling  Stanhop  (sab.,  a  bend  between 
six  cross-crosslets,  arg.} ;  and  (4)  Stathum  impaling  Seynclow 
(erm.,  a  chevron,  gu.) ;  but  only  the  second  and  fourth  now 
remain. 

The  estates  of  Morley,  after  continuing  in  the  Stathum  family 
for  four  generations,  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Sacheverells, 
by  the  marriage  of  Joan,  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  Henry 
Stathum,  with  John  Sacheverell,  son  and  heir  of  Ralph  Sa- 
cheverell,  of  Snitterton  and  Hopwell,  by  Joan,  daughter  of  John 
Curzon,  of  Kedleston.  In  a  note  of  Ashmole's  to  the  visitation 
of  this  church  in  1662,  it  is  stated  that  this  ancient  family 
originally  came  from  "  Sau-cheverell,  a  towne  in  Normandy,  and 
that  the  name  is  derived  '  de  saltu  Caprioli,  a  goates  leape ' 
The  early  pedigrees  of  this  family  are  much  confused,  but  that 
given  in  Thoroton's  Nottinghamshire,  the  one  usually  quoted,  is 
undoubtedly  faulty  in  several  particulars.  The  one  that  seems 
the  most  accurate,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  test  it,  is 
that  in  the  Warwickshire  Visitation,  1619.f  Patricius  de  Sau- 
cheverell,  about  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  held  a  fourth 
part  of  a  knight's  fee  at  Hopwell,  parish  of  Sawley,  under  Nigel 
de  Longford,  and  Nigel  under  the  bishop  of  the  diocese.  He 
also  held  a  whole  knight's  fee  of  the  same  manor  immediately 
under  the  king.J  Patrick  married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Snitterton,  of  Suitterton,  Darley  Dale,  whence  that  property  came 
to  the  family.  Robert  Sacheverell,  the  sixth  in  descent  from 
Patrick,  married  for  his  first  wife  the  heiress  of  John  Hopwell. 
Their  son  John  married  Anne,  daughter  (but  not  co-heiress,  as 
asserted  by  Thoroton,  Lysons,  etc.),  of  Sir  Roger  Leche,  of 
Chatsworth,  and  their  eldest  son  and  heir  was  Ralph,  father  of 
John  Sacheverell,  who  married  the  heiress  of  Stathum. 

Upon  a  brass  plate  against  the  south  wall  of  the  south  chapel 
(which  was  in  this  position  in  1662)  is  this  inscription  : — 

*  John  Bothe,  in  the  beginning  of  Edward  TI's  reign,  married  Loretta,  daughter  and 
heiress  of  Anne,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Gilbert  de  Barton.  The  original  arms  of 
Bothe  were  a  chevron  engrailed,  in  a  canton  or  mullet,  but  the  family  subsequently 
assumed  the  Barton  arms,  the  three  boars  heads,  as  given  above.  Anne,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Bothe,  of  Barton,  Lancashire,  was  sister  to  Sir  John  Bothe,  of  whose  large 
family,  including  William,  Archbishop  of  York,  and  John,  Treasurer  of  Lichfield 
Cathedral,  we  shall  learn  more  under  Sawley  church. 

t  Harl.  MSS.,  1,167.    Printed  by  the  Harleian  Society. 

}  Testa  de  Nevill,  ff.  34,  54. 


MORLEY,  333 

"  Hie  jacet  Johnes  Sachevrell  Armig  fill  et  heres  Radi  Sachevrell  Armigi  dm 
de  Snetterton  et  hopwell  Et  Joana  ux  eju'  filia  et  unica  heres  herici  Stathum 
Armigeri  did  de  Morley  qui  quidem  Johnes  obiit  In  bello  Eicardi  tercij  juxta 
bosworth  anno  dni  M°  cccc"  lixxvto  Quorum  aiabus  propicietur  deus  Amen." 

Above  the  inscription  are  the  figures  of  John  and  his  wife 
kneeling  opposite  to  each  other ;  he  is  represented  in  plate 
armour,  with  three  boys  behind  him,  and  his  wife  in  a  close 
fitting  gown  and  pedimental  head-dress,  with  five  girls  kneeling 
behind  her  similarly  attired.  The  style  of  the  armour  is  not 
such  as  was  worn  at  the  battle  of  Bosworth  Field,  but  many 
years  later,  and  the  general  character  of  the  brass  shows  that 
it  was  engraved  circa  1525.  Joan,  the  relict  of  John  Sacheverell, 
was  married  a  second  time  to  William  Zouch,  and  this  memorial 
was  probably  not  put  up  till  after  her  death.  The  sons  of 
John  and  Joan  Sacheverell  were  (1)  John,  who  died  in  his 
youth ;  (2)  Henry,  of  Morley ;  and  (3)  Ralph,  who  obtained  the 
manor  of  Radcliff-on-Soar  by  bequest  from  his  uncle,  and  was 
the  ancestor  of  the  Sacheverells  of  that  place. 

Scrolls  bearing  an  invocation  to  S.  Christopher  (who  seems  to 
have  been  the  patron  saint  of  the  lords  of  Morley,  and  to  whom 
we  believe  that  the  altar  at  the  end  of  the  south  aisle  was 
dedicated)  proceed  from  the  heads  of  the  figures  to  a  representation 
of  that  saint  bearing  the  Holy  Child. 

There  are  three  shields  of  arms  on  this  brass.  (1)  Sacheverell 
(arcf.,  on  a  saltire,  az.,  five  water-bougets,  or)  and  Hopwell  *  (arg., 
three  hares  playing  upon  bag-pipes,  gu.)  quarterly,  impaling 
Curzon.  (2)  Sacheverell  and  Hopwell  quarterly,  impaling  Stathum 
and  Morley  quarterly.  (3)  Sacheverell  and  Hopwell  quarterly. 

On  a  large  slab,  between  the  chancel  and  north  aisle,  near  the 
altar,  are  the  po